THE BEST SUMMER
Summer time is here and in full bloom. Some render it as the best season of the year. In much of the modern world, it is traditionally known to be the major school break of the year-a period of 2-3 months which marks the ending passage of one year and the rest before the next year/stage begins. And because of the large percentage of the population out on break, it is also a traditionally wide-celebrated time for weddings.
But one of the more widely-practiced activities of summer time world-wide seems to be that of 'inactivity', rather than activity. In other words, laziness, apathy, and hence non-achievement.
Following is a glimpse of some of the lyrics of a song by Nat King Cole which rated #6 on the charts in 1963:
'Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
You'll wish that summer could always be here'
This song evolved into a world-wide known jingle not only celebrating but even idolizing laziness, and equating laziness with summer time.
Is this the was that we Muslims should view our summer vacation time? Or any vacation time or other 'free' time throughout the year?
Without a doubt, we all-regardless of our religion or occupation or position in society-need a break from the routine and pressures of daily life in order to refresh ourselves for a return to the daily life renewed with the vigor needed to face the challenges that the life presents us with.
Just because our normal daily routine presents us with a change-sometimes a change which comes with it more free time on our hands-does not mean that we should carelessly let that time pass by us without putting it to some good use. In fact, for the Muslim, there is no such thing as 'free time'.
Allah the Almighty says (translation of the meaning): 'Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.' (s. 2, v. 156)
And:
'And I (Allah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone).' (s. 55, v. 56)
From these two verses alone, we find a great lesson to be had-that we do not own our own lives as we may assume, but even our very essence of our souls is for Allah. And we have been created by Him to worship Him Alone. Then how is it and why is it that so many of us are so often careless and mindless of this important fact of our relationship with Allah and our relationship with ourselves?
The prophet Mohammed(SAAW0 was quoted as saying: 'There are two blessings which many people lose: (they are) health and free time for doing good.' (Bukhari, v. VIII, The Book of Ar-Riqaq, pg. 282, #421)
He (SAAW) also said: 'Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler.' (Bukhari, v. VIII, pg. 284, #425).
These two ahadith demonstrate to us the importance of timr.
Summer cannot always be here. Nor can any other time of the year remain for longer than it's assigned period. Time stops for no one. Once a moment of time is gone, it is gong forever.
Someone, ages ago, stated a formidable ideal, that time is money. And as we all know full well in this day and age, it is a basic necessity of this earthly life to have money or some other form of valuable in order to basically live day to day.
But is that all there is to all this? To merely struggle for the day to day existence of this worldly life?
For the Muslim, time is more precious and important than merely having the value of earthly money. Time is essentially an important factor of our eventual salvation and reward with the Creator. Bascially, time, and how we spend it, comes second only to our underlying faith.
For we are to be judged eventually on how we spent our time-in wasteful activities or perhaps in beneficial acts of worship or helping others.
Don't just kick back this summer on those hazy days, wasting your time away in daydreaming or simply lazily lying around, or perhaps even indulging in haram (prohibited) activities. Rather, organize yourself and your time towards benefiting yourself by tending to more acts of worship.
Remember that we have been created for worshipping Him, so let's focus our attentions and set our goals towards achieving just that-worshipping Him and Him Alone!
The best possible summer experience to be had is that which is void of wasted time-that from which you can draw memories of fulfilling achievement in worshipping the Creator and benefiting mankind.
We all tend to actively pursuit our careers or our education in seeking the benefits and riches that this life has to offer. It is now way past time that we should actively pursuit the goal of attaining salvation and a reserved spot in His heaven. And a beginning towards that is proper arrangement of time so as not to waste it, but rather to spend it in acts of worship for Him.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
TRULY THE GREATEST HELP
TRULY THE GREATEST HELP
'Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with)Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.' (Al-Quran, S. Al-Ahzab; s. 33, v. 21)
O slaves of Allah! Do you look forward to the meeting with Allah? Do you have faith and hope in the Last Day? Do you remember Allah much?
If your answer to any one of those questions is a 'yes', then by all means, heed the reminder of this above-quoted verse!
How is it that so many people world-wide claim that they hold a deep and strong love for our beloved prophet(SAAW) and yet they choose others from past and present to imitate their practices and speech?
The most obvious and strongest way to prove your love of someone or something is imitation.
We have been told by our beloved prophet(SAAW) that we will be raised up among those whom we loved in this life.
It is said in the Quran: 'Say (O Mohammed,SAAW, to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e., accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran and the sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.'' (s. 3, v. 31)
Who do you wish to raised up with, or among whose company? Do you truly wish to be raised and finally situated among our beloved prophet(SAAW) and his beloved companions(ARA)?
If so, then it has become truly important and incumbent upon you to study for yourself from the works left to us by renowned scholars of the lives of these important personalities.
And then, once you have learned the important lessons from their lives, then apply it step by step into your daily lives yourselves. Hence, imitating the life and practices of our beloved prophet(SAAW).
Have you come across some difficulties or obstacles in your life? Have you had disappointments or times of sadness and despair?
Surely, do not despair of the mercy and blessings of Allah. And never become ungrateful to Him of the endless blessings that He has bestowed upon each and every one of us, regardless of any hard times or trials and tribulations that may befall us from time to time.
Rather, gain strength and fortitude and inspiration from the reminder that even in the face of trials, there is still great blessing to be found and gained.
To prove this point, let us take a look at some of the revelations of the prophet's(SAAW) sayings from the many various ahadith on this matter:
Narrated Abu Hurairah(ARA): Allah's Messenger(SAAW) said, 'A Muslim, male or female, continues to remain under trial in respect of his life, property and offspring till he or she faces Allah the Exalted, in a state that he or she has no sin on his or her record.' (At-Tirmidhi)(Riyadh-As-Saliheen, v. 1, p. 70, #49)
*We come to know from this hadith, that Muslims are special targets of trials, but a redeeming feature of these trials is that Muslim's sins are pardoned through them provided they remain firm in their faith and patience.
And:
Narrated Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah(ARA): The Prophet(SAAW) said, 'Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, and illness, and anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn that his sins are not expiated for him.' (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)(Riyadh-As-Saliheen, v. 1, p. 60, #37)
*This hadith mentions the special grace and mercy of Allah for the Muslims. It relates how Allah turns the hardships and troubles suffered by a Muslim into a means of expiation for his sins. But this is only possible if the believer exercises patience. However, if he starts weeping and wailing instead of showing patience then beside suffering hardships, he would be deprived the reward which lies in bearing them patiently. Thus, he shall have to take the burden of additional sins also.
Two very important reminders for all to remember concerning adversity or calamity (or in more simple lay terms: 'bad times'):
1. Our life on this earth is a series of ongoing tests. These tests act like a sieve to 'weed out' the true believers from the hypocrites. And these tests are a means by which Allah(SWT) helps us to strengthen our faith.
2. Regardless of what we may be going through, others have had to pass through similar and perhaps tougher tests than what we ourselves are having to endure. Therefore, we are not alone in the experience nor are we alone in our pain.
We have been told in the Quran:
'O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.' (s. 2, v. 153)
The prophet(SAAW) was well-known to have not only close and strong affiliation to Allah, but he(SAAW) was also well known for his strong love of the prayer and high tendency towards the prayer, particularly in times of adversity and calamity.
He(SAAW) would often turn to Bilal in times of adversity or when feeling strong waves of sadness or depression, urging him to make the call to the prayer. Simply because he found such solace and peace and tranquility in the prayer. A virtual escape, and eventual solution to, the problems conflicting and confronting him of the moment.
O, my dear brethren, remember that Satan is the greatest tempter and the reason of much of our feelings of discord and jealousy and discontent in this life. So when you have any of those feelings coming on, then proceed towards the prayer, imitating the practice of our beloved prophet(SAAW).
Even if it is not time for one of the prescribed prayers, then make your intention for a voluntary prayer. And, as has been established as dependable tradition, the first step towards the prayer is the intention, then the cleansing with water (wudhu).
This is a most important aspect towards conquering or defeating Satan and his whisperings.
Remember that Satan was created from fire. And the most effective element in extinguishing the fire is water!
So, once you have performed the ceremonial cleansing itself, you have made the best step towards defeating Satan this time.
Also very important to remember-none of us can conquer Satan on our own. We need Allah's help and strength to do so. So seek Allah's protection always, by saying: 'Aoudhubillahi minash-shaytaanir-rajim' (I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the accursed!)
Take the fullest advantage of this prayer as you seek to strengthen yourself through patient perseverance and prayer. Take the time to recite verses from which you can receive higher and more meaningful inspiration. Contemplate on those verses as you recite.
Take full advantage of the position and action of the sajda (prostration). The Prophet(SAAW) has so wisely told us that the time or position in which we are closest to the Creator is while we are in the state of the sajda (prostration). Hence, he(SAAW) advised us to increase the supplication (dua) at this stage.
While in this position cry your heart out to Allah! Bring your complaints and desires and wishes to the surface! Turn your life and you rproblems over to Allah!
Glory be to Him! He knows all, and sees all! He knows that which is in the deepest part of your inner souls!!
Surely, He knows all of our problems and wishes and desires without us having to admit them.
But, as I have stated before-this worldly life is nothing more than an ongoing test. This world is the testing ground by which the hypocrites are weeded out from among the true believers. And it is the worldly experience which serves as a method of strengthening for the true believers.
Allah(SWT) has given us the guidance and criterion by which to improve ourselves and find the path back to Him. Will we take it?
He knows our innermost desires and needs. Yet He(SWT) wisely refrains from granting us everything till we make the move to humble ourselves and come to Him.
In that is a great lesson to be learned. Will we humble ourselves to ask of Him? Will we be thankful of all the blessings He has bestowed upon us? Will we seek the path that leads toward Him and eternal salvation and utter undisturbed peace and happiness?
Or will we be distracted by the fleeting and momentary distractions of the pastimes of this worldly life?
O, my dear brothers and sisters-take heed, and find true peace and solace for your lives. Not only for this worldly life, but more importantly for the Eternity!
Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer!!
'Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the meeting with)Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.' (Al-Quran, S. Al-Ahzab; s. 33, v. 21)
O slaves of Allah! Do you look forward to the meeting with Allah? Do you have faith and hope in the Last Day? Do you remember Allah much?
If your answer to any one of those questions is a 'yes', then by all means, heed the reminder of this above-quoted verse!
How is it that so many people world-wide claim that they hold a deep and strong love for our beloved prophet(SAAW) and yet they choose others from past and present to imitate their practices and speech?
The most obvious and strongest way to prove your love of someone or something is imitation.
We have been told by our beloved prophet(SAAW) that we will be raised up among those whom we loved in this life.
It is said in the Quran: 'Say (O Mohammed,SAAW, to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e., accept Islamic monotheism, follow the Quran and the sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins.'' (s. 3, v. 31)
Who do you wish to raised up with, or among whose company? Do you truly wish to be raised and finally situated among our beloved prophet(SAAW) and his beloved companions(ARA)?
If so, then it has become truly important and incumbent upon you to study for yourself from the works left to us by renowned scholars of the lives of these important personalities.
And then, once you have learned the important lessons from their lives, then apply it step by step into your daily lives yourselves. Hence, imitating the life and practices of our beloved prophet(SAAW).
Have you come across some difficulties or obstacles in your life? Have you had disappointments or times of sadness and despair?
Surely, do not despair of the mercy and blessings of Allah. And never become ungrateful to Him of the endless blessings that He has bestowed upon each and every one of us, regardless of any hard times or trials and tribulations that may befall us from time to time.
Rather, gain strength and fortitude and inspiration from the reminder that even in the face of trials, there is still great blessing to be found and gained.
To prove this point, let us take a look at some of the revelations of the prophet's(SAAW) sayings from the many various ahadith on this matter:
Narrated Abu Hurairah(ARA): Allah's Messenger(SAAW) said, 'A Muslim, male or female, continues to remain under trial in respect of his life, property and offspring till he or she faces Allah the Exalted, in a state that he or she has no sin on his or her record.' (At-Tirmidhi)(Riyadh-As-Saliheen, v. 1, p. 70, #49)
*We come to know from this hadith, that Muslims are special targets of trials, but a redeeming feature of these trials is that Muslim's sins are pardoned through them provided they remain firm in their faith and patience.
And:
Narrated Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah(ARA): The Prophet(SAAW) said, 'Never a believer is stricken with a discomfort, and illness, and anxiety, a grief or mental worry or even the pricking of a thorn that his sins are not expiated for him.' (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)(Riyadh-As-Saliheen, v. 1, p. 60, #37)
*This hadith mentions the special grace and mercy of Allah for the Muslims. It relates how Allah turns the hardships and troubles suffered by a Muslim into a means of expiation for his sins. But this is only possible if the believer exercises patience. However, if he starts weeping and wailing instead of showing patience then beside suffering hardships, he would be deprived the reward which lies in bearing them patiently. Thus, he shall have to take the burden of additional sins also.
Two very important reminders for all to remember concerning adversity or calamity (or in more simple lay terms: 'bad times'):
1. Our life on this earth is a series of ongoing tests. These tests act like a sieve to 'weed out' the true believers from the hypocrites. And these tests are a means by which Allah(SWT) helps us to strengthen our faith.
2. Regardless of what we may be going through, others have had to pass through similar and perhaps tougher tests than what we ourselves are having to endure. Therefore, we are not alone in the experience nor are we alone in our pain.
We have been told in the Quran:
'O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.' (s. 2, v. 153)
The prophet(SAAW) was well-known to have not only close and strong affiliation to Allah, but he(SAAW) was also well known for his strong love of the prayer and high tendency towards the prayer, particularly in times of adversity and calamity.
He(SAAW) would often turn to Bilal in times of adversity or when feeling strong waves of sadness or depression, urging him to make the call to the prayer. Simply because he found such solace and peace and tranquility in the prayer. A virtual escape, and eventual solution to, the problems conflicting and confronting him of the moment.
O, my dear brethren, remember that Satan is the greatest tempter and the reason of much of our feelings of discord and jealousy and discontent in this life. So when you have any of those feelings coming on, then proceed towards the prayer, imitating the practice of our beloved prophet(SAAW).
Even if it is not time for one of the prescribed prayers, then make your intention for a voluntary prayer. And, as has been established as dependable tradition, the first step towards the prayer is the intention, then the cleansing with water (wudhu).
This is a most important aspect towards conquering or defeating Satan and his whisperings.
Remember that Satan was created from fire. And the most effective element in extinguishing the fire is water!
So, once you have performed the ceremonial cleansing itself, you have made the best step towards defeating Satan this time.
Also very important to remember-none of us can conquer Satan on our own. We need Allah's help and strength to do so. So seek Allah's protection always, by saying: 'Aoudhubillahi minash-shaytaanir-rajim' (I seek refuge with Allah from Satan the accursed!)
Take the fullest advantage of this prayer as you seek to strengthen yourself through patient perseverance and prayer. Take the time to recite verses from which you can receive higher and more meaningful inspiration. Contemplate on those verses as you recite.
Take full advantage of the position and action of the sajda (prostration). The Prophet(SAAW) has so wisely told us that the time or position in which we are closest to the Creator is while we are in the state of the sajda (prostration). Hence, he(SAAW) advised us to increase the supplication (dua) at this stage.
While in this position cry your heart out to Allah! Bring your complaints and desires and wishes to the surface! Turn your life and you rproblems over to Allah!
Glory be to Him! He knows all, and sees all! He knows that which is in the deepest part of your inner souls!!
Surely, He knows all of our problems and wishes and desires without us having to admit them.
But, as I have stated before-this worldly life is nothing more than an ongoing test. This world is the testing ground by which the hypocrites are weeded out from among the true believers. And it is the worldly experience which serves as a method of strengthening for the true believers.
Allah(SWT) has given us the guidance and criterion by which to improve ourselves and find the path back to Him. Will we take it?
He knows our innermost desires and needs. Yet He(SWT) wisely refrains from granting us everything till we make the move to humble ourselves and come to Him.
In that is a great lesson to be learned. Will we humble ourselves to ask of Him? Will we be thankful of all the blessings He has bestowed upon us? Will we seek the path that leads toward Him and eternal salvation and utter undisturbed peace and happiness?
Or will we be distracted by the fleeting and momentary distractions of the pastimes of this worldly life?
O, my dear brothers and sisters-take heed, and find true peace and solace for your lives. Not only for this worldly life, but more importantly for the Eternity!
Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer!!
TO ALLAH IS OUR RETURN
TO ALLAH IS OUR RETURN
Allah (SWT) says (translation of the meanings):
'And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who are patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: 'Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.''(s. 2, v. 155-156).
One of the most difficult things for a person to bear in this life is the loss of a loved one. For sure, we all face difficulty and hardship when we are confronted with the loss of the material fruits of this life, or even with a loss to ourselves by decline in health or disease. But it seems to me that the most difficult of calamity to cope with is to face the life of this world without the continuance of any of our loved ones along with us.
For those of you who have had to cope with the loss of a loved one, you understand what I am saying. And for those of you who have yet to face such a calamity, you will not fully understand until that time may come to you. And as true as this test is part of this worldly life, I pray that each of us will have the strength and fortitude to persevere with patience, and eventually reap the reward promised by Allah. For surely, He never relinquishes on His promise.
There is no loss which is easy for the person to bear. But of all the possible manners of loss, perhaps the most heart-wrenching, and therefore most difficult to sustain, is that of a parent who's child dies.
Due to the most natural procession of events of life, we most generally assume and take for granted that the elder fall weak, ill, and then die before the younger generation. And for the vast majority of cases, this is indeed the normal procession of events.
But this life has no guarantees, and we should not take it for granted nor assume that death will come to the elderly before the younger. Truly, our lives and the length of our lives is the sole knowledge of Allah, and it is with His power and permission that the life continues or ends.
As a mother myself, I can only imagine the sheer heartbreak that one faces at the loss of any of her children.
Several days ago I went to pay my respects to a family of our acquaintance of whom their adult son had only several days previously died. He was a husband and father of four. He had apparently been battling cancer for quite a while. Finally, Allah's decree of the disease won the battle. May Allah shed His mercy upon him.
There is no doubt that he will be missed by many. Although there are several uncles and even their grandfathers present in the children's lives, still there is no replacement for their father. A person may have many children or re-marry any number of times, but we all –regardless of our ages and stage in life-have only one father and one mother. Whenever we may lose either of those parents, there is no chance of replacement.
Yet no matter how hard it is for one to lose either of the parents, still I believe something that is more difficult to deal with in patience is the loss of a child.
As I visited with the family in my humble effort to join them in their sorrow and to gently remind them to remember Allah and be patient, I was touched by the extreme patience and perseverance I recognized in the mother of the deceased. Although she was not adorned with the kohl eyeliner, still her appearance was extremely neat and groomed. And it was not necessarily her neatness which caught my eye so much as the appearance of her eyes-very little, if any at all, residue or evidence of crying. Her countenance was, of course, of serious nature-but obviously not teary-eyed. As new visitors came in, some would make purposeful extensions of remembrance of the deceased and reminding the mother and all others of this natural course in life that we must all eventually take. They would also voice reminders of the importance of patience at such times. Most generally, the mother would simply reply in a tearless
agreement to their statements, and perhaps she would also express praises and thanks to Allah.
Upon conversing with one of the daughters-in-law of the household, I learned that this stance of the mother was not merely a front for the visiting public. Rather, she was this same pillar of strength for the whole family even behind closed doors and away from the on-looking visitors. Whenever she would notice some of the younger ones crying, she would reprimand them-reminding that his death was a mercy from Allah in that he had suffered much from the disease. And she would continue on to remind them that even if not for his suffering, still this was the plan and desire of Allah to take him at this time, so they must all be thankful to Him for all things.
Even in her most private of moments when she was in prayer to the Creator, she was reportedly ever patient, and in true form of a faithful slave-calling out to Allah to shed His mercy upon her beloved son.
Such utter patience at a time of great calamity! Surely, the greatest pain any mother can endure is the loss of a child. Yet, this woman shows us great strength and love for Allah through her patience and seeking perseverance through prayer.
We are taught by the Islamic teachings that the test for patience is at the time of the onset of the calamity, not at a later time. It is easy for all of us, although still painful, to awaken a bit later after the onset of the calamity and then gather our senses towards a patient acceptance of the reality of the loss. But the test for us is at the onset of the calamity-to be patient and accepting of Allah's decree and worship Him with remembrance of Him and thanks to Him.
Verily, we come from Allah and to Him is our return.
I pray that we can all find the strength to be patient whenever we are faced with the onset of a calamity.
Allah (SWT) says (translation of the meanings):
'And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give glad tidings to those who are patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: 'Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.''(s. 2, v. 155-156).
One of the most difficult things for a person to bear in this life is the loss of a loved one. For sure, we all face difficulty and hardship when we are confronted with the loss of the material fruits of this life, or even with a loss to ourselves by decline in health or disease. But it seems to me that the most difficult of calamity to cope with is to face the life of this world without the continuance of any of our loved ones along with us.
For those of you who have had to cope with the loss of a loved one, you understand what I am saying. And for those of you who have yet to face such a calamity, you will not fully understand until that time may come to you. And as true as this test is part of this worldly life, I pray that each of us will have the strength and fortitude to persevere with patience, and eventually reap the reward promised by Allah. For surely, He never relinquishes on His promise.
There is no loss which is easy for the person to bear. But of all the possible manners of loss, perhaps the most heart-wrenching, and therefore most difficult to sustain, is that of a parent who's child dies.
Due to the most natural procession of events of life, we most generally assume and take for granted that the elder fall weak, ill, and then die before the younger generation. And for the vast majority of cases, this is indeed the normal procession of events.
But this life has no guarantees, and we should not take it for granted nor assume that death will come to the elderly before the younger. Truly, our lives and the length of our lives is the sole knowledge of Allah, and it is with His power and permission that the life continues or ends.
As a mother myself, I can only imagine the sheer heartbreak that one faces at the loss of any of her children.
Several days ago I went to pay my respects to a family of our acquaintance of whom their adult son had only several days previously died. He was a husband and father of four. He had apparently been battling cancer for quite a while. Finally, Allah's decree of the disease won the battle. May Allah shed His mercy upon him.
There is no doubt that he will be missed by many. Although there are several uncles and even their grandfathers present in the children's lives, still there is no replacement for their father. A person may have many children or re-marry any number of times, but we all –regardless of our ages and stage in life-have only one father and one mother. Whenever we may lose either of those parents, there is no chance of replacement.
Yet no matter how hard it is for one to lose either of the parents, still I believe something that is more difficult to deal with in patience is the loss of a child.
As I visited with the family in my humble effort to join them in their sorrow and to gently remind them to remember Allah and be patient, I was touched by the extreme patience and perseverance I recognized in the mother of the deceased. Although she was not adorned with the kohl eyeliner, still her appearance was extremely neat and groomed. And it was not necessarily her neatness which caught my eye so much as the appearance of her eyes-very little, if any at all, residue or evidence of crying. Her countenance was, of course, of serious nature-but obviously not teary-eyed. As new visitors came in, some would make purposeful extensions of remembrance of the deceased and reminding the mother and all others of this natural course in life that we must all eventually take. They would also voice reminders of the importance of patience at such times. Most generally, the mother would simply reply in a tearless
agreement to their statements, and perhaps she would also express praises and thanks to Allah.
Upon conversing with one of the daughters-in-law of the household, I learned that this stance of the mother was not merely a front for the visiting public. Rather, she was this same pillar of strength for the whole family even behind closed doors and away from the on-looking visitors. Whenever she would notice some of the younger ones crying, she would reprimand them-reminding that his death was a mercy from Allah in that he had suffered much from the disease. And she would continue on to remind them that even if not for his suffering, still this was the plan and desire of Allah to take him at this time, so they must all be thankful to Him for all things.
Even in her most private of moments when she was in prayer to the Creator, she was reportedly ever patient, and in true form of a faithful slave-calling out to Allah to shed His mercy upon her beloved son.
Such utter patience at a time of great calamity! Surely, the greatest pain any mother can endure is the loss of a child. Yet, this woman shows us great strength and love for Allah through her patience and seeking perseverance through prayer.
We are taught by the Islamic teachings that the test for patience is at the time of the onset of the calamity, not at a later time. It is easy for all of us, although still painful, to awaken a bit later after the onset of the calamity and then gather our senses towards a patient acceptance of the reality of the loss. But the test for us is at the onset of the calamity-to be patient and accepting of Allah's decree and worship Him with remembrance of Him and thanks to Him.
Verily, we come from Allah and to Him is our return.
I pray that we can all find the strength to be patient whenever we are faced with the onset of a calamity.
'TIS THE SEASON
'TIS THE SEASON…OF SACRIFICE!!
Once again, the magnificient, truly mind-boggling and utterly beautiful, ancient season of haj is upon us. Mind-boggling in that so many Muslims literally from all corners and cracks of the world gather together in this one spot at one time, for the sole purpose of worshipping their Creator. And beautiful in that this once-a-year procession demonstrates so vividly the possibility of unity and harmony of mankind.
To the modern-day Muslims, the haj is basically an exercise in worship by imitating the traditional rituals that our father Ibrahim, A.S.(Abraham) himself performed.
But to mankind in general, and the history of mankind, as well as creation as a whole, it has a more vast and far-reaching meaning.
The haj itself entails the necessity of the individual to embark on this venture, leaving behind all his/her worldly affairs for the time, in order to present himself/herself at the required spots on the required times.
The pilgrim needs to travel to Makkah, perform the circumambulation round the kaaba; walk/run between the hillocks Safa and Marwa; stand (i.e. be present) at the plains region of Arafat on the Day of Arafat; camp out that night at Mizdelifa; campt for 2-3 nights at Mina; and then perform once again the circumambulation round the kaaba. As well as offering the sacrificial animal, for those who it is incumbent upon, and throwing the pebbles at the assigned stations on the assigned days.
Of these deeds and rituals, the most important aspect is the presence of the hopeful hajji at the Arafat plains region on the Day of Arafat. As has been recorded in various ahadith, the prophet(SAAW) mentioned: the haj IS Arafat. Thereby indicating the jurisdiction that for those not present within the boundaries of the Arafat plains sometime before sunset on the Day of Arafat, then they have not attained the performance of the haj. Even thought they may attend to all other rituals of the haj. Without the presence at Arafat at the right time, there is no haj.
And although many people prefer to term this presence at Arafat as 'standing at Arafat', it is quite acceptable that the people may sit (whether on chairs, the ground, or even their vehicles), or even lay down for a time.
And it is also fine and acceptable that those present at Arafat take a meal, and drink to their satisfaction during their stay. In fact, as according to the prophet's saying, those present at Arafat on the Day of Arafat, are not to fast. It is a sufficient form of worship that they are present at Arafat for that holy, important, day.
Allah (SWT) has told us, in His Book, that He has created us for nothing other than worshipping Him. And although there are many pleasing aspects of this life within the realm of the permissible and legal status, we should not let those worldly pleasures distract us from what He has created us for, and that is to worship Him.
The observance of the haj, or the participation in the haj, is one of the five pillars of Islam. And although it is required of a Muslim only once in his/her life (as per the individual's ability to meet the requirements/qualifications for it), it is considered highly as the culmination or high peek of status of worship. This is basically due to the sacrificial nature of and surrounding the haj and it's season. Even for those Muslims not attending the haj, there is still the high value of sacrifice surrounding this season.
One of the important traditional practices associated with the haj is the offering of the sacrificial animal. Before proceeding, we should remember that Allah(SWT) has told us that it is not the blood of the sacrifice, nor the meat, which reaches Him. Nor is He in need of that blood or meat. But it is the piety of the worshipper offering the sacrifice in His name, which is the benefit and goal of the whole act.
The tradition of offering the sacrificial animal began with Ibrahim, A.S. He received a vision, which he correctly understood to be a divine directive, to sacrifice his own beloved son.
To better understand the value and importance of this act, we should think in more detail of the particulars in relation to the situation.
Up until this time, his wife was barren. In other words, he had no children as of yet. He and his wife both were getting on in years, so naturally, the natural hope of them having children dwindled as their ages rose.
Along their travels through the earth, Ibrahim and his wife Sarah passed through Egypt for a time. And upon their exit from Egypt, the king of Egypt presented Sarah with a slave girl as a gift for her. Sarah in turn offered this very same slave girl to her beloved husband. Ibrahim did not reject, and so he co-habited with Hagar (the slave girl) as well as with his wife Sarah.
When it became known that Hagar was pregnant, Sarah could no longer contain her jealousy. It was one thing for her to know of and even witness her beloved husband with another woman. But to realize that this other woman should be blessed with child while she remained barren, this was too much for her to bear.
And so, at Sarah's insistence, Ibrahim, A.S., took Hagar and her infant son, Ismael, to the desert valley region which we know as Makkah today. But at that time, it was not only desert, it was virtually deserted as well, excepting for the tribes of the surrounding region and the traders who occasionally crossed the paths of this region in their travels from Yemen in the south to Syria in the north and back.
As Ibrahim turned to leave his fostering family behind, Hagar naturally made a pleading move in questioning objection to this turn of fate. And when Ibrahim made no reply, but rather silently and determinedly moved along his way, she realized that this was of divine decree. So, she, in turn, became resolved in peace to the fate encrued upon herself and her beloved infant son. It was shortly after this, that her desperate search for water became the source of the traditional practice of the 'saiee' (running/walking) between the two hillocks of Safa and Marwa. And the greatest blessing out of this one event itself is the still-vibrant and productive well of the zam-zam water. For it sprout out of the ground as the crying baby Ismael pounded his heels to the ground during his crying.
As Ibrahim left his family behind, he supplicated Allah the Almighty to protect and provide for his family, which He evidently did. Ibrahim returned to visit them years later, when the lad was approaching adolescence. He had received a vision that he was to offer in sacrifice, his precious first-born, who was until now his only son. Making him even more so precious. Yet even if a person has many children, all are precious in their own right.
He informed his beloved son, who was still essentially a child even by standards of that time, of the vision which he understood and took seriously as divine decree, thereby necessitating it's obedience. Yet this foresighted and truly amazingly patient child, rather than crying out of fright, simply replied with the greatest of trust to his father: 'O father! Do as you deem the right thing. And you will find me in patient obedience.'
Such an honorable way to respond for this child, who was destined to be a prophet as well, not only the son of a prophet!!
So, Ibrahim took his son out a ways from the people, and proceeded in his preparations to sacrifice his first-born, as yet his only-born. He even made measure to instruct his son to face downwards so that he need not look into his son's face as he did the act.
As his truly razor-sharp knife was lowering on Ismael's throat, a beautiful ram appeared from utterly no where. And Ibrahim was immediately divinely informed that this ram was sent to him by divine order as the replacement for his son. Such a great and blessed replacement indeed!!
Hence, Ibrahim proceeded almost immediately, out of joy, relief, and thanks for Allah's blessing and mercy, to sacrifice this beautiful animal. And in doing so, Ibrahim was divinely informed that he had fulfilled the covenant and passed the important test that was presented to him.
In the end, he did not sacrifice his own son, killing him with his own hands, but a ram instead. But it was as if he had truly sacrificed him, for he proceeded steadfastly every step of the way in progression towards that goal. And Allah, in His everlasting and all-encompassing mercy, sent to Ibrahim the gift of the ram instead. Providing for him a way out, that he may retain his beloved son, while at the same time, and more importantly, fulfilling Allah's command to offer the sacrifice
To this day, whether attending the haj themselves, or remaining in their homes across the globe, Muslims celebrate the remembrance of this ordeal by offering their own sacrificial animal. And they give thanks to Allah for the uncountable blessings He has bestowed upon us all.
Ibrahim passed the test. He was truly willing to sacrifice that which he was commanded to. That which was perhaps the most dear to him in his life.
Are you ready truly to sacrifice for Allah when the time comes? Will you pass the test?!
Prepare yourselves always for the test. Seek Allah's help and strength. It surely will not be easy, as it was not easy for Ibrahim nor for Ismael.
'Tis the season…for sacrifice.
For the true believers, that is year round, not merely seasonable. So let's work to be classified among the true believers, and take the important lessons to be had of this holy season, and apply it to the rest of our lives the whole year through!!
Once again, the magnificient, truly mind-boggling and utterly beautiful, ancient season of haj is upon us. Mind-boggling in that so many Muslims literally from all corners and cracks of the world gather together in this one spot at one time, for the sole purpose of worshipping their Creator. And beautiful in that this once-a-year procession demonstrates so vividly the possibility of unity and harmony of mankind.
To the modern-day Muslims, the haj is basically an exercise in worship by imitating the traditional rituals that our father Ibrahim, A.S.(Abraham) himself performed.
But to mankind in general, and the history of mankind, as well as creation as a whole, it has a more vast and far-reaching meaning.
The haj itself entails the necessity of the individual to embark on this venture, leaving behind all his/her worldly affairs for the time, in order to present himself/herself at the required spots on the required times.
The pilgrim needs to travel to Makkah, perform the circumambulation round the kaaba; walk/run between the hillocks Safa and Marwa; stand (i.e. be present) at the plains region of Arafat on the Day of Arafat; camp out that night at Mizdelifa; campt for 2-3 nights at Mina; and then perform once again the circumambulation round the kaaba. As well as offering the sacrificial animal, for those who it is incumbent upon, and throwing the pebbles at the assigned stations on the assigned days.
Of these deeds and rituals, the most important aspect is the presence of the hopeful hajji at the Arafat plains region on the Day of Arafat. As has been recorded in various ahadith, the prophet(SAAW) mentioned: the haj IS Arafat. Thereby indicating the jurisdiction that for those not present within the boundaries of the Arafat plains sometime before sunset on the Day of Arafat, then they have not attained the performance of the haj. Even thought they may attend to all other rituals of the haj. Without the presence at Arafat at the right time, there is no haj.
And although many people prefer to term this presence at Arafat as 'standing at Arafat', it is quite acceptable that the people may sit (whether on chairs, the ground, or even their vehicles), or even lay down for a time.
And it is also fine and acceptable that those present at Arafat take a meal, and drink to their satisfaction during their stay. In fact, as according to the prophet's saying, those present at Arafat on the Day of Arafat, are not to fast. It is a sufficient form of worship that they are present at Arafat for that holy, important, day.
Allah (SWT) has told us, in His Book, that He has created us for nothing other than worshipping Him. And although there are many pleasing aspects of this life within the realm of the permissible and legal status, we should not let those worldly pleasures distract us from what He has created us for, and that is to worship Him.
The observance of the haj, or the participation in the haj, is one of the five pillars of Islam. And although it is required of a Muslim only once in his/her life (as per the individual's ability to meet the requirements/qualifications for it), it is considered highly as the culmination or high peek of status of worship. This is basically due to the sacrificial nature of and surrounding the haj and it's season. Even for those Muslims not attending the haj, there is still the high value of sacrifice surrounding this season.
One of the important traditional practices associated with the haj is the offering of the sacrificial animal. Before proceeding, we should remember that Allah(SWT) has told us that it is not the blood of the sacrifice, nor the meat, which reaches Him. Nor is He in need of that blood or meat. But it is the piety of the worshipper offering the sacrifice in His name, which is the benefit and goal of the whole act.
The tradition of offering the sacrificial animal began with Ibrahim, A.S. He received a vision, which he correctly understood to be a divine directive, to sacrifice his own beloved son.
To better understand the value and importance of this act, we should think in more detail of the particulars in relation to the situation.
Up until this time, his wife was barren. In other words, he had no children as of yet. He and his wife both were getting on in years, so naturally, the natural hope of them having children dwindled as their ages rose.
Along their travels through the earth, Ibrahim and his wife Sarah passed through Egypt for a time. And upon their exit from Egypt, the king of Egypt presented Sarah with a slave girl as a gift for her. Sarah in turn offered this very same slave girl to her beloved husband. Ibrahim did not reject, and so he co-habited with Hagar (the slave girl) as well as with his wife Sarah.
When it became known that Hagar was pregnant, Sarah could no longer contain her jealousy. It was one thing for her to know of and even witness her beloved husband with another woman. But to realize that this other woman should be blessed with child while she remained barren, this was too much for her to bear.
And so, at Sarah's insistence, Ibrahim, A.S., took Hagar and her infant son, Ismael, to the desert valley region which we know as Makkah today. But at that time, it was not only desert, it was virtually deserted as well, excepting for the tribes of the surrounding region and the traders who occasionally crossed the paths of this region in their travels from Yemen in the south to Syria in the north and back.
As Ibrahim turned to leave his fostering family behind, Hagar naturally made a pleading move in questioning objection to this turn of fate. And when Ibrahim made no reply, but rather silently and determinedly moved along his way, she realized that this was of divine decree. So, she, in turn, became resolved in peace to the fate encrued upon herself and her beloved infant son. It was shortly after this, that her desperate search for water became the source of the traditional practice of the 'saiee' (running/walking) between the two hillocks of Safa and Marwa. And the greatest blessing out of this one event itself is the still-vibrant and productive well of the zam-zam water. For it sprout out of the ground as the crying baby Ismael pounded his heels to the ground during his crying.
As Ibrahim left his family behind, he supplicated Allah the Almighty to protect and provide for his family, which He evidently did. Ibrahim returned to visit them years later, when the lad was approaching adolescence. He had received a vision that he was to offer in sacrifice, his precious first-born, who was until now his only son. Making him even more so precious. Yet even if a person has many children, all are precious in their own right.
He informed his beloved son, who was still essentially a child even by standards of that time, of the vision which he understood and took seriously as divine decree, thereby necessitating it's obedience. Yet this foresighted and truly amazingly patient child, rather than crying out of fright, simply replied with the greatest of trust to his father: 'O father! Do as you deem the right thing. And you will find me in patient obedience.'
Such an honorable way to respond for this child, who was destined to be a prophet as well, not only the son of a prophet!!
So, Ibrahim took his son out a ways from the people, and proceeded in his preparations to sacrifice his first-born, as yet his only-born. He even made measure to instruct his son to face downwards so that he need not look into his son's face as he did the act.
As his truly razor-sharp knife was lowering on Ismael's throat, a beautiful ram appeared from utterly no where. And Ibrahim was immediately divinely informed that this ram was sent to him by divine order as the replacement for his son. Such a great and blessed replacement indeed!!
Hence, Ibrahim proceeded almost immediately, out of joy, relief, and thanks for Allah's blessing and mercy, to sacrifice this beautiful animal. And in doing so, Ibrahim was divinely informed that he had fulfilled the covenant and passed the important test that was presented to him.
In the end, he did not sacrifice his own son, killing him with his own hands, but a ram instead. But it was as if he had truly sacrificed him, for he proceeded steadfastly every step of the way in progression towards that goal. And Allah, in His everlasting and all-encompassing mercy, sent to Ibrahim the gift of the ram instead. Providing for him a way out, that he may retain his beloved son, while at the same time, and more importantly, fulfilling Allah's command to offer the sacrifice
To this day, whether attending the haj themselves, or remaining in their homes across the globe, Muslims celebrate the remembrance of this ordeal by offering their own sacrificial animal. And they give thanks to Allah for the uncountable blessings He has bestowed upon us all.
Ibrahim passed the test. He was truly willing to sacrifice that which he was commanded to. That which was perhaps the most dear to him in his life.
Are you ready truly to sacrifice for Allah when the time comes? Will you pass the test?!
Prepare yourselves always for the test. Seek Allah's help and strength. It surely will not be easy, as it was not easy for Ibrahim nor for Ismael.
'Tis the season…for sacrifice.
For the true believers, that is year round, not merely seasonable. So let's work to be classified among the true believers, and take the important lessons to be had of this holy season, and apply it to the rest of our lives the whole year through!!
THE SUCCESSFUL WINNERS
THE SUCCESSFUL WINNERS
Ah, the blessed holy month of Ramadhan is now past. Yet another year has trickled by us. And it is time now that we all reflect upon this past month, and examine for ourselves-asking truthfully-what-if anything-have we gained out of this ever-important training period?
In the Arab world, there is a common jingle of greeting that is frequently broadcast on the television and radio channels. It is quite a short and simple tune-yet quite rich and deep in it's meaning. The Arabic words go like this: 'Wa min al-Eideen, wa min al-faizeen, inshaAllah'. And it is repeated throughout the days of the Eid on various broadcastings. And you will find this phrase a common greeting among the people as they greet each other in the celebration of the holiday. The meaning is quite touching: 'May you be of those who live to witness another Eid, may you be of the winners, by the will of Allah'. A beautiful sentiment indeed to greet your fellow brethren with.
It is quite simple to understand the first portion of this greeting, for it is quite obviously self-explanatory. 'May you be blessed to witness another Eid'. It is a supplication to Allah to grant you more life to live to witness yet another Eid. A tender and touching supplication asking Allah to grant the person (whom you are greeting) to mercifully grant them more time in order to more sincerely repent for their sins, and more time to do more for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure and reward with Him.
The second portion of this greeting is a little more deep in it's meaning. The words themselves are quite simple and clear: 'May you be of the winners (or the successful)'. And as goes in the song as broadcast, a chorus of different voices follow up with 'inshaAllah'. We all are quite familiar with the phrase 'inshaAllah', which means 'God willing'. But as for the phrase: 'may you be of the winners (or the successful), it is a common greeting and supplication repeated much throughout the days of Ramadhan and increasing in the people's repetition of it as Ramadhan comes to a close, and throughout the days of the Eid. It is a supplication in which we ask Allah for success in our efforts of worshipping Him through the month of fasting. And a manner by which we ask of Him the ultimate blessing of attaining His pleasure by having our meager deeds accepted, and hence becoming a member of the exclusive club of the winners-one of those preciously and divinely blessed souls which attain the blessed abode of the eternal bless of Heaven. Surely, that is the ultimate goal of success and winning. That is the ultimate and beautiful description of 'fa'iz'.
So it is with this humble attempt to explain to all reading of this common and short yet potent Arabic phrase, that I myself greet all at this opportune time of the celebration marking the closing of yet another blessed Ramadhan-May you be blessed to witness another Ramadhan and Eid, may you be blessed to be among the winners! InshaAllah! I greet you all from the deepest depths of my heart-min al-Eideen, wa min al-faizeen, inshaAllah.
May Allah grant you His mercy and guidance that your deeds of worship be accepted, and that your mistakes and sins be forgiven, and may you attain the much greater mercy of His pardon, by which all memory and record of any bad deeds are not only forgiven, but all traces erased!
May you and your loved ones be of the successful winners who have learned the important lessons to be had from this holy month. May you be of the winners who have learned the importance of self-discipline in all manners of your life and at all times-not only of abstention from food and sex in the daylight hours.
May you be of the successful winners who have learned the importance of reading the Quran daily throughout the year, and applying it's teaching in your day to day life. May you be of the successful winners who learn the Quran by heart and for whom the Quran will be a companion in the grave and a protection from Allah's anger.
May you be of the successful winners who succeed to instill in their children and all those with whom they come in contact the love for Allah and Islam, and the drive to help others.
May you be of the successful winners who will not forget and pass over the tender beauty of standing up in the late hours of the night in prayer, as the rest of the world sleeps, asking your Lord His forgiveness and pardon and mercy and blessings and guidance and much much more. May you be of the successful winners who will continue to practice the late night nafil prayers throughout the year.
May you be of the successful winners who will be blessed to witness yet another Ramadhan and Eid. May you be of the successful winners who will have the chance with more of this earthly life to repent to Allah and to do more for Him and His cause.
May you be of the successful winners who have learned a higher degree of patience so that if and/or whenever any trials come along your way, you will be patient at it's onset, so that you will attain great reward from Allah for that patience, as He has promised.
May you be of the successful winners for whom the prayer is not a chore, but a blessing from which they desire never to part.
May you be of the successful winners who devote their lives and their energies to working for the cause of Allah always.
May you be of the successful winners who concentrate consistently upon worshipping purely for the sake of pleasing Allah, and not to be seen by their fellow man.
May you be of the successful winners whose sincerity is sure and deep and for Allah alone.
May you be of the successful winners whose ultimate abode is paradise, the upper level of firdaus, and who are blessed to ultimately witness Allah.
And I humbly ask all reading to please not forget this humble sister of yours from your prayers as well. For verily, I am also in dire need of your prayers and in need of Allah's mercy and generosity!
May we all be of the successful winners! Ameen!
Ah, the blessed holy month of Ramadhan is now past. Yet another year has trickled by us. And it is time now that we all reflect upon this past month, and examine for ourselves-asking truthfully-what-if anything-have we gained out of this ever-important training period?
In the Arab world, there is a common jingle of greeting that is frequently broadcast on the television and radio channels. It is quite a short and simple tune-yet quite rich and deep in it's meaning. The Arabic words go like this: 'Wa min al-Eideen, wa min al-faizeen, inshaAllah'. And it is repeated throughout the days of the Eid on various broadcastings. And you will find this phrase a common greeting among the people as they greet each other in the celebration of the holiday. The meaning is quite touching: 'May you be of those who live to witness another Eid, may you be of the winners, by the will of Allah'. A beautiful sentiment indeed to greet your fellow brethren with.
It is quite simple to understand the first portion of this greeting, for it is quite obviously self-explanatory. 'May you be blessed to witness another Eid'. It is a supplication to Allah to grant you more life to live to witness yet another Eid. A tender and touching supplication asking Allah to grant the person (whom you are greeting) to mercifully grant them more time in order to more sincerely repent for their sins, and more time to do more for the sake of Allah, seeking His pleasure and reward with Him.
The second portion of this greeting is a little more deep in it's meaning. The words themselves are quite simple and clear: 'May you be of the winners (or the successful)'. And as goes in the song as broadcast, a chorus of different voices follow up with 'inshaAllah'. We all are quite familiar with the phrase 'inshaAllah', which means 'God willing'. But as for the phrase: 'may you be of the winners (or the successful), it is a common greeting and supplication repeated much throughout the days of Ramadhan and increasing in the people's repetition of it as Ramadhan comes to a close, and throughout the days of the Eid. It is a supplication in which we ask Allah for success in our efforts of worshipping Him through the month of fasting. And a manner by which we ask of Him the ultimate blessing of attaining His pleasure by having our meager deeds accepted, and hence becoming a member of the exclusive club of the winners-one of those preciously and divinely blessed souls which attain the blessed abode of the eternal bless of Heaven. Surely, that is the ultimate goal of success and winning. That is the ultimate and beautiful description of 'fa'iz'.
So it is with this humble attempt to explain to all reading of this common and short yet potent Arabic phrase, that I myself greet all at this opportune time of the celebration marking the closing of yet another blessed Ramadhan-May you be blessed to witness another Ramadhan and Eid, may you be blessed to be among the winners! InshaAllah! I greet you all from the deepest depths of my heart-min al-Eideen, wa min al-faizeen, inshaAllah.
May Allah grant you His mercy and guidance that your deeds of worship be accepted, and that your mistakes and sins be forgiven, and may you attain the much greater mercy of His pardon, by which all memory and record of any bad deeds are not only forgiven, but all traces erased!
May you and your loved ones be of the successful winners who have learned the important lessons to be had from this holy month. May you be of the winners who have learned the importance of self-discipline in all manners of your life and at all times-not only of abstention from food and sex in the daylight hours.
May you be of the successful winners who have learned the importance of reading the Quran daily throughout the year, and applying it's teaching in your day to day life. May you be of the successful winners who learn the Quran by heart and for whom the Quran will be a companion in the grave and a protection from Allah's anger.
May you be of the successful winners who succeed to instill in their children and all those with whom they come in contact the love for Allah and Islam, and the drive to help others.
May you be of the successful winners who will not forget and pass over the tender beauty of standing up in the late hours of the night in prayer, as the rest of the world sleeps, asking your Lord His forgiveness and pardon and mercy and blessings and guidance and much much more. May you be of the successful winners who will continue to practice the late night nafil prayers throughout the year.
May you be of the successful winners who will be blessed to witness yet another Ramadhan and Eid. May you be of the successful winners who will have the chance with more of this earthly life to repent to Allah and to do more for Him and His cause.
May you be of the successful winners who have learned a higher degree of patience so that if and/or whenever any trials come along your way, you will be patient at it's onset, so that you will attain great reward from Allah for that patience, as He has promised.
May you be of the successful winners for whom the prayer is not a chore, but a blessing from which they desire never to part.
May you be of the successful winners who devote their lives and their energies to working for the cause of Allah always.
May you be of the successful winners who concentrate consistently upon worshipping purely for the sake of pleasing Allah, and not to be seen by their fellow man.
May you be of the successful winners whose sincerity is sure and deep and for Allah alone.
May you be of the successful winners whose ultimate abode is paradise, the upper level of firdaus, and who are blessed to ultimately witness Allah.
And I humbly ask all reading to please not forget this humble sister of yours from your prayers as well. For verily, I am also in dire need of your prayers and in need of Allah's mercy and generosity!
May we all be of the successful winners! Ameen!
THE REPORT CARD
THE REPORT CARD
It's that time of year again. The spring frosts are over. The blossoms and fruits of the new season are all blooming and growing. The major wedding season of the year is once again creeping upon us. Students of all levels are in a feverish preparation and cramming review in anticipation of the final exams of the school year.
The long break of the summer is almost here!!
We all look forward to summer vacation. As students, it was a well-deserved break after a year (the school year being in all actuality only 9 months) of hard-and much of the time-monotonous work. And now, as parents of the newer batch of students, we also look forward to the summer in grand anticipation as a break from the tug-of-war job of waking unresponding adolescents in the mornings, and constant reminding and nagging for them to study in the evenings.
For all the generations concerned-parents and children alike-the summer break is a well-deserved vacation. The icing on the cake after a year of long and hard work.
And a very famous precept as to the quality of enjoyment of that hard-earned vacation is the end-of-the-year report card. The final accumulative results of the whole previous year's school work is the grand opener to set the mood for the upcoming months of the summer vacation.
If the scores are good, then everyone is happy, and summer vacation kicks off with a bang. But if the scores are poor, then that sets the atmosphere for tension, anger, and the promising threat of the onslaught of punishment of some sort.
But forget about school for a moment. Let's look at the much wider and excessively more serious picture of life and our relationship to the Creator.
He has given us a Book of Directive Guidance. He has mercifully sent to us fine exemplary role models in the long historical procession of prophets and messengers. And we ourselves pass through an ongoing test. This whole earthly life is merely a grand succession of tests.
And so what will our final grade be?
On that infamous Day to come-do you suspect you will be handed your report in your left hand or the right? Do you suppose you will be presented with the report in front of you or behind your back?
On that Day of Reckoning, there will be no chance to return to re-do things. Nor will there be a second chance for a re-make on any of the tests. Nor will there be any cheating on the resulting grades. What you will see of the results will be your fair share of what you deserve in accordance with your performance in this life.
Prepare yourselves well, my dearly beloved brethren! In this day and age, with the grand advantages we have to achieve knowledge and awareness, there is little excuse for not knowing the truth and the guidance. Seek out, learn, and then implement that Divine Guidance. It is within easy and affordable reach of us all, if only we will make the effort.
Make the best use of the time and blessings and forturne you have been granted in this life. Seek Allah's help, His guidance, and His protection from Satan, deviation, and laziness. And pray for His mercy that you will find solace and promise in a good passing report, in order that your eternity shall be spent in happiness and tranquility.
It's that time of year again. The spring frosts are over. The blossoms and fruits of the new season are all blooming and growing. The major wedding season of the year is once again creeping upon us. Students of all levels are in a feverish preparation and cramming review in anticipation of the final exams of the school year.
The long break of the summer is almost here!!
We all look forward to summer vacation. As students, it was a well-deserved break after a year (the school year being in all actuality only 9 months) of hard-and much of the time-monotonous work. And now, as parents of the newer batch of students, we also look forward to the summer in grand anticipation as a break from the tug-of-war job of waking unresponding adolescents in the mornings, and constant reminding and nagging for them to study in the evenings.
For all the generations concerned-parents and children alike-the summer break is a well-deserved vacation. The icing on the cake after a year of long and hard work.
And a very famous precept as to the quality of enjoyment of that hard-earned vacation is the end-of-the-year report card. The final accumulative results of the whole previous year's school work is the grand opener to set the mood for the upcoming months of the summer vacation.
If the scores are good, then everyone is happy, and summer vacation kicks off with a bang. But if the scores are poor, then that sets the atmosphere for tension, anger, and the promising threat of the onslaught of punishment of some sort.
But forget about school for a moment. Let's look at the much wider and excessively more serious picture of life and our relationship to the Creator.
He has given us a Book of Directive Guidance. He has mercifully sent to us fine exemplary role models in the long historical procession of prophets and messengers. And we ourselves pass through an ongoing test. This whole earthly life is merely a grand succession of tests.
And so what will our final grade be?
On that infamous Day to come-do you suspect you will be handed your report in your left hand or the right? Do you suppose you will be presented with the report in front of you or behind your back?
On that Day of Reckoning, there will be no chance to return to re-do things. Nor will there be a second chance for a re-make on any of the tests. Nor will there be any cheating on the resulting grades. What you will see of the results will be your fair share of what you deserve in accordance with your performance in this life.
Prepare yourselves well, my dearly beloved brethren! In this day and age, with the grand advantages we have to achieve knowledge and awareness, there is little excuse for not knowing the truth and the guidance. Seek out, learn, and then implement that Divine Guidance. It is within easy and affordable reach of us all, if only we will make the effort.
Make the best use of the time and blessings and forturne you have been granted in this life. Seek Allah's help, His guidance, and His protection from Satan, deviation, and laziness. And pray for His mercy that you will find solace and promise in a good passing report, in order that your eternity shall be spent in happiness and tranquility.
THE INFERIORITY COMPLEX
THE INFERIORITY COMPLEX
Ever have that awful feeling of inferiority to those around you? It is quite common to so many of us at least once in our lives. That sense that you are an under-achiever in the midst of a group-regardless how large or small-of truly marathon achievers. Successful people, professionals at whatever it is that they do.
Not that I have necessarily grown into a fat-head about myself any my meager achievements in my adult years-still it has been more or less a lifetime since I have had that gut-wrenching feeling of extreme inferiority in any group setting.
Perhaps it was a good humbling experience. Or at least a wake-up all to my inner self to vividly remind me that I still have much work yet to do if I really wish to make my mark remain on this world and to give some real substantial value to my life.
I am essentially an alien in a life and society that is basically as alien to me as I am to it. But in spite of the natural born alienity, I have grown into the Arab life and society as much as it has grown onto me. Although born to and raised by Americans with no Arab roots nor blood-still I have become so innately Arab not only by association of marriage and acquired nationality, but also by the fact of my inclination towards the Arab nation due to my Islamic beliefs-seeing as how the desert of Arabia is the birthplace of Islam.
And even though I am obviously an alien in this society in more ways than one-still I have become more or less a 'celebrity-type' alien, you might say. I only use the term 'celebrity' for lack of better and more tasteful a term. By this term I mean that I am rather well-known-if not first hand, then by word of mouth-in this rather tight little community.
In the larger more metropolitan cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, the presence of a westerner in the midst of Arabs is not so uncommon. Nor is it really in our region of the south-Assir-at least not so in professional circles such as the health care sector, etc. But even in the view of the fast development of this region and it's growing modernistic trends, still this particular region of Arabia holds fast to it's original puristic Arab roots and associated traditions. So to see an American who has not only converted to Islam and marry into one of the local tribes, but who has as well not only adapted to but has also blended into the fabric of this society, is a note-worthy thing indeed. Hence the simile of the 'celebrity' status.
I have been blessed to have the ability and conviction to adapt myself to this society in all possible mannerisms to the extent that the only true revealing things about myself are those things I cannot change-namely my skin tone, and my height. Other than that, and my family name, of course, there is little to notify any stranger that I was not born and raised in this society. There have been many occasions when I have succeeded in fooling even the most savvy of Arabs into thinking-although admittedly questioningly-that I am also naturally an Arab.
Now, back to the topic at hand-achievement and under-achievers. Which one do I fit into? I guess it depends upon which vantage point you are looking from, and what determining factor is the subject of the achievement. Kind of like the phrase 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. For depending upon the topic of the scale, I can easily fit into either group-perhaps much as nearly any person of this world.
There I was-exepting for my husband and my son-sitting in a room full of strangers. And each one of them-my husband included-was not only an achiever, but an expert in his/her field. ( I have excluded my son out of this description basically because he has not yet finished his college time nor has he entered into the work force to determine his own field of expertise.) True professional to the letter of description. And it was humble lil' ol' me-the muslimah completely covered, the housewife, the mother and grandmother, the college-drop-out, the alien who has adapted to life in the muslim world-who was the center of their attention, their filming, their eventually-to-be-internationally-broadcast interview. Rather a sense of overwhelm engulfed me, to say the least.
I mean, what of my life's story could possibly be so interesting to captivate these people's audience and a future international audience of countless many? The fact that I was attracted enough to Islam to literally leave the only world and family I had known since birth to embark on the adventure of carving out a new life and world for myself? Or perhaps it was my choice in changing my name? or perhaps it was to learn that although differences are notably present in both societies (American vs. Saudi) that the change did not phase me? Or perhaps it was to learn that even though I'm a stay-at-home wife, dress in full hijab, don't drive, etc.-still I feel I have all the freedoms in the world? Or perhaps it was to learn that I'm not judgemental about the muslims who are not so strict as I am in their practice?
To tell the truth, I was rather nervous for the interview. And while sitting there and then afterwards as well, I thought about the whole thing, and felt rather small in the midst of all those professionals who were focusing their attentions on me. But then I came to realize something else as well…I'm not really an under-achiever after all. There is always room for improvement, which I hope, with the help of Allah, to accomplish eventually. But I am certainly no under-achiever.
Perhaps I don't have a college degree under my belt. And I don't travel unless I have at least my husband or one of my sons along with me. And I don't drive nor even will I ride in a taxi alone. Nor do I study or work outside the home. And I cover in complete hijab when I go outside my home. But those are my choices as a free woman.
And so-as I said-I have come to realize I'm not an under-achiever after all. Why, I'm a Muslim convert from Christianity. I've learned how to pray the Muslim prayer, and many other things important for a Muslim to implement Islam into daily life. I've learned how to read, write, speak and understand Arabic. Not a simple task indeed. I've borne and raised 3 lovely children into fine adults-all practicing Muslims themselves. And I have also been blessed with 4 adorable grandsons-who I have a part in their training as well. On the home front, I've developed into a rather proficient cook, helping my husband promote himself in many business circles by entertaining much through the years. Many a business deal was either attained or attracted or realized over our dinner tables. I've also pushed myself, with much yearning, to learn more of Islam from the sources-not only to enrich my own life and that of my family's-but reaching out world wide over the internet-helping fellow Muslims to better learn their religion as well as helping some non-Muslims come to Islam.
And my work is not yet done. In fact, I feel I've just begun.
Another interview anyone?
Perhaps I'll do better next time. For I've come to the realization-I'm not an under-achiever.
By the grace of Allah, and with His Divine help, I've accomplished much. Much more yet to do, of course. But I have been blessed to accomplish much in my life so far, and hopefully more yet to come. My degree? Why-of course!! A PhD in mothering, general teaching & coaching, with an accompanying MS in the field of wifery and all that is associated to it. I'm still working on my doctorate on that one.
My profession? You guessed it! None other than a professional wife/mother/grandmother!! And quite a satisfied one, at that.
Ever have that awful feeling of inferiority to those around you? It is quite common to so many of us at least once in our lives. That sense that you are an under-achiever in the midst of a group-regardless how large or small-of truly marathon achievers. Successful people, professionals at whatever it is that they do.
Not that I have necessarily grown into a fat-head about myself any my meager achievements in my adult years-still it has been more or less a lifetime since I have had that gut-wrenching feeling of extreme inferiority in any group setting.
Perhaps it was a good humbling experience. Or at least a wake-up all to my inner self to vividly remind me that I still have much work yet to do if I really wish to make my mark remain on this world and to give some real substantial value to my life.
I am essentially an alien in a life and society that is basically as alien to me as I am to it. But in spite of the natural born alienity, I have grown into the Arab life and society as much as it has grown onto me. Although born to and raised by Americans with no Arab roots nor blood-still I have become so innately Arab not only by association of marriage and acquired nationality, but also by the fact of my inclination towards the Arab nation due to my Islamic beliefs-seeing as how the desert of Arabia is the birthplace of Islam.
And even though I am obviously an alien in this society in more ways than one-still I have become more or less a 'celebrity-type' alien, you might say. I only use the term 'celebrity' for lack of better and more tasteful a term. By this term I mean that I am rather well-known-if not first hand, then by word of mouth-in this rather tight little community.
In the larger more metropolitan cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam, the presence of a westerner in the midst of Arabs is not so uncommon. Nor is it really in our region of the south-Assir-at least not so in professional circles such as the health care sector, etc. But even in the view of the fast development of this region and it's growing modernistic trends, still this particular region of Arabia holds fast to it's original puristic Arab roots and associated traditions. So to see an American who has not only converted to Islam and marry into one of the local tribes, but who has as well not only adapted to but has also blended into the fabric of this society, is a note-worthy thing indeed. Hence the simile of the 'celebrity' status.
I have been blessed to have the ability and conviction to adapt myself to this society in all possible mannerisms to the extent that the only true revealing things about myself are those things I cannot change-namely my skin tone, and my height. Other than that, and my family name, of course, there is little to notify any stranger that I was not born and raised in this society. There have been many occasions when I have succeeded in fooling even the most savvy of Arabs into thinking-although admittedly questioningly-that I am also naturally an Arab.
Now, back to the topic at hand-achievement and under-achievers. Which one do I fit into? I guess it depends upon which vantage point you are looking from, and what determining factor is the subject of the achievement. Kind of like the phrase 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'. For depending upon the topic of the scale, I can easily fit into either group-perhaps much as nearly any person of this world.
There I was-exepting for my husband and my son-sitting in a room full of strangers. And each one of them-my husband included-was not only an achiever, but an expert in his/her field. ( I have excluded my son out of this description basically because he has not yet finished his college time nor has he entered into the work force to determine his own field of expertise.) True professional to the letter of description. And it was humble lil' ol' me-the muslimah completely covered, the housewife, the mother and grandmother, the college-drop-out, the alien who has adapted to life in the muslim world-who was the center of their attention, their filming, their eventually-to-be-internationally-broadcast interview. Rather a sense of overwhelm engulfed me, to say the least.
I mean, what of my life's story could possibly be so interesting to captivate these people's audience and a future international audience of countless many? The fact that I was attracted enough to Islam to literally leave the only world and family I had known since birth to embark on the adventure of carving out a new life and world for myself? Or perhaps it was my choice in changing my name? or perhaps it was to learn that although differences are notably present in both societies (American vs. Saudi) that the change did not phase me? Or perhaps it was to learn that even though I'm a stay-at-home wife, dress in full hijab, don't drive, etc.-still I feel I have all the freedoms in the world? Or perhaps it was to learn that I'm not judgemental about the muslims who are not so strict as I am in their practice?
To tell the truth, I was rather nervous for the interview. And while sitting there and then afterwards as well, I thought about the whole thing, and felt rather small in the midst of all those professionals who were focusing their attentions on me. But then I came to realize something else as well…I'm not really an under-achiever after all. There is always room for improvement, which I hope, with the help of Allah, to accomplish eventually. But I am certainly no under-achiever.
Perhaps I don't have a college degree under my belt. And I don't travel unless I have at least my husband or one of my sons along with me. And I don't drive nor even will I ride in a taxi alone. Nor do I study or work outside the home. And I cover in complete hijab when I go outside my home. But those are my choices as a free woman.
And so-as I said-I have come to realize I'm not an under-achiever after all. Why, I'm a Muslim convert from Christianity. I've learned how to pray the Muslim prayer, and many other things important for a Muslim to implement Islam into daily life. I've learned how to read, write, speak and understand Arabic. Not a simple task indeed. I've borne and raised 3 lovely children into fine adults-all practicing Muslims themselves. And I have also been blessed with 4 adorable grandsons-who I have a part in their training as well. On the home front, I've developed into a rather proficient cook, helping my husband promote himself in many business circles by entertaining much through the years. Many a business deal was either attained or attracted or realized over our dinner tables. I've also pushed myself, with much yearning, to learn more of Islam from the sources-not only to enrich my own life and that of my family's-but reaching out world wide over the internet-helping fellow Muslims to better learn their religion as well as helping some non-Muslims come to Islam.
And my work is not yet done. In fact, I feel I've just begun.
Another interview anyone?
Perhaps I'll do better next time. For I've come to the realization-I'm not an under-achiever.
By the grace of Allah, and with His Divine help, I've accomplished much. Much more yet to do, of course. But I have been blessed to accomplish much in my life so far, and hopefully more yet to come. My degree? Why-of course!! A PhD in mothering, general teaching & coaching, with an accompanying MS in the field of wifery and all that is associated to it. I'm still working on my doctorate on that one.
My profession? You guessed it! None other than a professional wife/mother/grandmother!! And quite a satisfied one, at that.
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