Death is on my mind these days! How can it not be?? The massacre in Syria and Palestine, the recent plane crash in Pakistan just weeks after 135 brave soldiers were buried under snow and just generally death seems to be around me, so I've got death on my mind. I have been thinking about my state when my time comes. I recently read about a brother who has been through a major surgery and as soon as he came to; he said his shahadah and kept repeating it through semi-consciousness all while he was still in the ICU. I read about a sister, who was in the throws of death - screaming with pain and passing out due to its intensity but as soon as the doctor came she asked for her hijab. I read about a sister, who bore extreme pain of chemotherapy for months on end but never gave up hope. I recently found out my paternal grandfather (who passed away when i was 4) never gave up prayers even right after he had been operated on for a tumor. My uncle is in a coma right now, doctors say his brain is too damaged to ever fully recover but our hope is in someone greater than medical science. One time my aunt saw his arm moving, when she removed his covers he had his fist made like he was in tashahud. He was never known to miss his prayers.
I read how Prophet Ibrahim AS made dua for himself to be remembered by people in a good way. Allah not only fulfilled his dua but made his acts a legacy for all Muslims to follow - SubhanAllah. So I pray death comes to me in the best state of my Iman, I pray when it comes I have the Kalimah on my lips and when Allah takes me; He is pleased with me. I am still thinking about how Id like to be remembered - I hope as someone who made a difference. May Allah give me the guidance to be of use to His creation and may He accept.
Saturday, 28 April 2012
Friday, 20 April 2012
Quality of a Caller (Da'ee)
I have finished reading an excellent book about the qualities a caller to Allah must possess. For each one, I felt either i dont have it at all or it needs serious work. May Allah make it easy for me. The one quality, however, that really stood out was sincerity. It is sincerity or concern for people that will pull them toward you; sooner or later they will realise your words were genuine and hopefully that will bring about a change in them. While spreading the message of Allah, the most common stumbling stone for me is loss of this sincerity and coming off too pious. Although that has never been my intention and nor do I lose concern entirely; but if my behavior and words do not communicate my intention correctly, then whats the point really. I also feel its tough to "like" everyone, to the extent that you care about their akhirah and sometimes you care so much that you're shoving the deen down their throats. Ofcourse we shouldnt do that. Sometimes i loose sight of my purpose; sometimes it becomes about trying to change them - whereas that is needed too but i have learned that if i just keep the concern alive; the rest will work out bi izn Allah. Now that i have pinpointed my error, I must work on correcting it and thats a daunting task. Im so afraid of my words that I feel I may never be able to speak again, but thats Shaytan trying to stop me and I must fight it. May Allah put love in my heart for His people.
Qarun Lives....
First let me introduce you to Qarun, as in the Quran. He was a learned scholar, from the Bani Isarel and had been blessed with immense wealth of the world. I just read his story (Surah Al-Qasas) and was forced to admit that although Allah destroyed the real Qarun long ago ... his disciples exist in each one of us. He is living through us. Allow me to elaborate.
Qarun was a Muslim, as he came from the people of Musa AS and was even related to the prophet. He was a haafidh of the Torah, had been blessed with a lot of knowldege obviously; but along with that he had been given wealth of the world, so much so that it would burden big, strong men to carry just the keys to his treasure. He should have been the most grateful one around for having been given the best of both Ilm and Dunya... yet he was the most arrogant. He accredited himself for his wealth, he didnt deny it came from Allah BUT he said he deserved it. He was so close in behavior and status to the Pharoahs - they made him one of them! Can you imagine? The Bani Israel were a slave tribe and to be made a courtsman? He should have been lenient with the Bani Israel, given his authority.... yet he was the harshest on them. He refused to give zakat and did not spend on the people. He walked the earth with arrogance and pride and the same earth was commanded to eat him whole along with his wealth.
Today we, Muslims, when we are very educated or our kids manage to shine in universities or we are wealthy or even when we have ilm of the Quran - we attribute it to ourselves. Oh! we worked so hard with our kids, or our kids worked so hard for this. We say it about other people too Oh! they were so good with their finances and made all the right decisions, etc etc. All of us have had that attitude one time or another - it was ME, I did it. Wallahi you didnt! Had it not been Allah's will, you would not have anything despite making all the seemingly right choices. Crediting ourselves with our successes leads to us becoming arrogant. We may not become arrogant right away, but as people start to praise us and place on pedestals for our worldly standing; we start thinking we deserve that status. This arrogance eats away at our 'ikhlaq' like a termite and soon we are too good for our own families, our own people. We avoid meeting them too often, sometimes even say hurtful things about them. This is not true just of wealth, even those with "ilm" look down on their relatives not so endowed. We walk the earth with pride, very satified with our status.
Now if you are thinking that you arent THAT wealthy, so you're ok.... Alhamdolillah for what we have but take a look at your closets. Isnt it burdened with the treasure it holds, similar to the forces who carried Qarun's keys? Dont we have bank accounts in like 3 or 4 banks, isnt our wallet bent out of shape with the cards it carries. Dont our refrigerators and pantries boil over with food. Doesnt our heart pinch when it comes time to pay zakat or give in sadaqa? Dont we think we deserve the lifestyles we have or even our health? We have been blessed with Iman and wealth of the world - how thankful are we? Sadly, I was reminded of "us" when i read about Qarun.
So beware! Strive to be a Sulaymaan rather than a Qarun, Insha Allah.
Qarun was a Muslim, as he came from the people of Musa AS and was even related to the prophet. He was a haafidh of the Torah, had been blessed with a lot of knowldege obviously; but along with that he had been given wealth of the world, so much so that it would burden big, strong men to carry just the keys to his treasure. He should have been the most grateful one around for having been given the best of both Ilm and Dunya... yet he was the most arrogant. He accredited himself for his wealth, he didnt deny it came from Allah BUT he said he deserved it. He was so close in behavior and status to the Pharoahs - they made him one of them! Can you imagine? The Bani Israel were a slave tribe and to be made a courtsman? He should have been lenient with the Bani Israel, given his authority.... yet he was the harshest on them. He refused to give zakat and did not spend on the people. He walked the earth with arrogance and pride and the same earth was commanded to eat him whole along with his wealth.
Today we, Muslims, when we are very educated or our kids manage to shine in universities or we are wealthy or even when we have ilm of the Quran - we attribute it to ourselves. Oh! we worked so hard with our kids, or our kids worked so hard for this. We say it about other people too Oh! they were so good with their finances and made all the right decisions, etc etc. All of us have had that attitude one time or another - it was ME, I did it. Wallahi you didnt! Had it not been Allah's will, you would not have anything despite making all the seemingly right choices. Crediting ourselves with our successes leads to us becoming arrogant. We may not become arrogant right away, but as people start to praise us and place on pedestals for our worldly standing; we start thinking we deserve that status. This arrogance eats away at our 'ikhlaq' like a termite and soon we are too good for our own families, our own people. We avoid meeting them too often, sometimes even say hurtful things about them. This is not true just of wealth, even those with "ilm" look down on their relatives not so endowed. We walk the earth with pride, very satified with our status.
Now if you are thinking that you arent THAT wealthy, so you're ok.... Alhamdolillah for what we have but take a look at your closets. Isnt it burdened with the treasure it holds, similar to the forces who carried Qarun's keys? Dont we have bank accounts in like 3 or 4 banks, isnt our wallet bent out of shape with the cards it carries. Dont our refrigerators and pantries boil over with food. Doesnt our heart pinch when it comes time to pay zakat or give in sadaqa? Dont we think we deserve the lifestyles we have or even our health? We have been blessed with Iman and wealth of the world - how thankful are we? Sadly, I was reminded of "us" when i read about Qarun.
So beware! Strive to be a Sulaymaan rather than a Qarun, Insha Allah.
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