We all have grand goals (or should!) and we are furiously working towards those. These goals may be short or long term. Most often, however its the short-term goal we work most feverishly toward. These goals are the reasons for our everything. It could be a course we are studying for, a masjid we are helping build, a local project we are pioneering or "hajj" we are saving up for. With all our hard work and lots of dua and above all the will of Allah SWT - our goal is achieved. Its a beautiful moment indeed! And then....
And then Shaytan, who is burning up inside for we have met our objective, is ever ready for revenge. He comes to us almost immediately to instill in us pride and arrogance over our achievement. Suddenly, everybody else seem "less of a muslim". If we beat shaytan from planting this arrogance in us by remembering Allah - he turns to the people around us to make them envious and resentful. Aoozobillah he is a tireless enemy. He is also very strategic. If he cannot overcome us right away - he plays it slow. He makes us think we deserve a "break" - afterall we have been working so hard. A momentary pause is our right! Shaytan keeps us busy with little things, which make us believe we are still doing "our part" whereas he has taken us away from greater good and busied us in the smaller deeds. He makes us forget zikr of Allah, and we start slacking. Slowly and
without us even realizing, we would have abandoned much of the voluntary
acts and we are even being tardy of the compulsory! Next thing we know, we are in a rut - wondering how we fell so deep and how to get out.
How do we get out? Right away, start with the daily duas to protect yourself from shaytan and to plead for Allah's help. Keep yourself pure with wudhu and be mindful of timely salah. Fight against the desires of your nafs, even in the smallest things and Allah will help you overcome bigger desires. Do istighfaar, as it is seeking forgiveness that eases all matters bi'iznillah.
But more importantly, beware the peaking!
I have usually noticed brothers and sisters slipping after they have done something extraordinary. Almost as if they have reached the peak of all good deeds. Perhaps, shaytan whispers to them that their job is done. Perhaps, the praise they received has deluded them.
Whether we like it or not, when we achieve something big - peoples eye are on us. They are looking for guidance and inspiration and although we never took that responsibility - it squarely fall upon our shoulders simply because we were given the opportunity to do something and with Allah's help we did it. So when we slack, either people will think its ok for them to slack or they will form a bad opinion about the deen - which are you willing to take upon yourself?
Beat the peak! Do not limit yourselves to one goal - you were created in
the best manner and are capable of so much more. Just as you are nearing
the end of one project, start thinking what you will do next. Start
planning. Make dua to Allah SWT to never let you stop and never let any
good deed of yours go to waste due to our own mistakes.
May Allah protect you and me from "peaking" - may we never think its enough till our last breath. Ameen
Saturday, 22 June 2013
Friday, 29 March 2013
Piece of peace please...
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah, hearts are assured (Surat Ar-Raad, v28)
The 2 qualities mentioned in this ayat are belief in Allah and His remembrance. These are actually the qualities of people who repent - turn to Him for forgiveness; come (back) to the straight path. We know this from the previous verse. Allah ends the ayat with a very strong statement. In a very affirmative tone, Allah tells us that only the remembrance of Allah will bring you true peace. Thats the beauty of the quran - the words define the tone. SubhanAllah!
Many a times people have told me how they were not at peace. They didnt use those exact words, but they would say "i'm depressed" or "i feel weird/restless" or similar phrases showing the unrest within themselves. Some even say, everything's fine but im still depressed. I, myself have felt that way at certain times. The problem is we dont know what we are lacking is... peace. Most of us have some or the other difficult circumstance. For some, the challenges are more trying. Some seem to be stuck in a rut of challenges and arent able to get themselves out of one, when they are faced with yet another. SubhanAllah.
Recently this ayat came in front of me. Allahu Akbar I knew what was lacking from people's lives was the remembrance of Allah. When a person is somewhat attached to Allah, through salah or through good deeds - Allah wants that slave of His to completely enter subservience, to draw him nearer. This need to be nearer to Allah, causes unrest within a person. This is from the mercy of Allah. It is upto us however, to recognize this unrest and then channel it correctly. That slight attachment to Allah, is what causes us to seek for a way. The key is to know "what" you are seeking.
We all feel this unrest sometime, and that should be our clue that we are missing something in our daily routine.
How do we remember Allah? Make istighfar, do tasbeeh, read your duas for entering/leaving the home, etc. This is one kind of remembrance. Another is to realise the wrongs in your life, and make the changes for the pleasure of Allah SWT. Give in charity, get involved in the work of Allah SWT. Make every limb of yours work for Allah SWT. Make dua to Allah, and rely solely upon Him.
Anything and everything you do for the sake of Allah, is His remembrance. Nothing else you do will get you peace - although on the surface you may have the best of everything. Above all know that true peace and happiness will only be attained in jannah. That, in itself, brings peace to a mo'min.
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
Last or lasting?
"What advise would you give your son (or daughter) on your deathbed?" This was the question posed by a sheikh on facebook. I had 100 things pop in my head right away, and I was like Oh thats not hard... However, when i started typing in his comments box (he asked everyone to) - i was stuck for a while. I actually tried to imagine myself on my deathbed. I didnt do a great job of imagining, yet one thing was sure... many people do not die in a condition of giving advice. One reason is ofcourse it might be a sudden death, another could be an incapacitated mind but topmost for me was... when people are too involved in their sickness and pain, in their worldly belongings to offer any lasting advice. Immediately i made dua that Allah take me away in a state of iman and God-consciousness.
I may or may not get the opportunity to advise my kids anything given any of the above reasons....my only real option is to leave a lasting imprint on their lives now while I am sane and breathing. All the things I had listed in the sheikh's comment box are the things are I need to implement and enforce now. If i die tomorrow, my kids would know this is what their mother would have wanted them to do Insha Allah. I need to talk to my kids everyday and inculcate in them the love of Allah SWT and the prophet SAW so they look for guidance in them. I need to make them believe they can do anything they put their minds to, as long as they ask Allah for help, do their best and then have tawakkul. I need to tell them why their parents are important and how to be grateful to them. I need to make dua for them. I cannot teach them about life on my deathbed. I can only remind them of what i had already taught them. They cant just be my last words, they need to be lasting words..for my own salvation!
Ya Allah! Give me the wisdom to raise my children well. Ameen.
I may or may not get the opportunity to advise my kids anything given any of the above reasons....my only real option is to leave a lasting imprint on their lives now while I am sane and breathing. All the things I had listed in the sheikh's comment box are the things are I need to implement and enforce now. If i die tomorrow, my kids would know this is what their mother would have wanted them to do Insha Allah. I need to talk to my kids everyday and inculcate in them the love of Allah SWT and the prophet SAW so they look for guidance in them. I need to make them believe they can do anything they put their minds to, as long as they ask Allah for help, do their best and then have tawakkul. I need to tell them why their parents are important and how to be grateful to them. I need to make dua for them. I cannot teach them about life on my deathbed. I can only remind them of what i had already taught them. They cant just be my last words, they need to be lasting words..for my own salvation!
Ya Allah! Give me the wisdom to raise my children well. Ameen.
Thursday, 10 January 2013
I love him, I love him not.....
Lately, I have seen too many marriages fall apart or close to falling apart. Its heart-breaking especially when there are children involved. Its scary because when you have been married for a while; you KNOW your relationship is not unbreakable. If you have fooled yourself into believing that it is, then you better wake up and smell the coffee! Im not a pessimistic person at all but I am a realistic one so this post is not a dark, exaggerated version of my life. I know I have many flaws - some which bother my husband alot. I know there are many times when I dont try hard enough, or when I take things for granted. Upon analyzing my own relationship and those of close ones; I see that we have a great lack of mercy in us. We claim love for each other but we dont have the heart to overlook his/her faults.
And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.(Surah Ar-Rum, 21)
When I had read this ayah, I was struck at how Allah has separated love from mercy. SubhanAllah! Couple of years ago, I questioned myself if I "loved" my husband. I had been married a little over 4 years. My idea of " love" at that point was still the emotional rush that you ONLY have in the first year of marriage. I was unconvincingly arguing with myself that i do care for him, i do want my marriage to last... etc etc. It was not until I read this ayah and others similar to this; that I understood what I should look for in my relationship and the buck stops with me!
Love is important but it is also transient. If you are living with a person till the proverbial "death do you part" - you must fully expect to have many many (many) days that you do not "love" them. What is it then that keeps the relationship afloat? Mercy. It is your willingness to go that extra step, just because. It is putting yourself in their shoes, and see things as they want you to. It is staying quiet in a fight, when you totally have a comeback. It is knowing that Allah has your back! It is mercy that will make you love them again. Infact this constant in your marriage will eventually grow the bond stronger and stronger.
Many a times we expect our spouses to be a certain way - romantically, physically, emotionally, financially, religiously - any or all of these! We try our sincerest to steer them in this direction and are horribly disappointed when we dont see the ugly duckling turn into the swan. We write off the person! Allah said man is impatient and indeed we are. We are so quick to judge those closest to us. Those about whom Allah has said they are like our garments. A lot of the times we distance ourselves from them and we believe the best way is to not have any expectations. This indifference creates a rift which lessens the mercy and increases the distances. We becomes strangers in the same house, till we dont even live in the same house.
We never think that our creator knows what is best for us and maybe certain people are put in our lives to change or better our mindsets. So what we believe to be the perfect situation, may not be so or that we ourselves are not ready for the change we want to see in our spouses. Instead of focusing on our own goals and actions thereof, we are just focusing on a wish list for what they should be. Dont forget the role of shaytan in all of this. He sees the crack and presents every opportunity for us to grow more and more dissatisfied.
Another thing that I see happening is that we feel we are so self-sufficent that we dont ask for help. Not from our family and not from Allah. We keep "dealing" with our issues till everything is too messed up and again the lack of mercy in our hearts lets us exaggerate and worsen the situation.
Allah says in the above ayah that HE puts the love and mercy in our hearts- so doesnt it only make sense to keep asking Him for it. Every married couple, no matter how long you have been married or how "solid" you think you guys are - should ask Allah to put love and mercy in both your hearts towards each other.
رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا (Surah Al Furqan, 74)
And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.(Surah Ar-Rum, 21)
When I had read this ayah, I was struck at how Allah has separated love from mercy. SubhanAllah! Couple of years ago, I questioned myself if I "loved" my husband. I had been married a little over 4 years. My idea of " love" at that point was still the emotional rush that you ONLY have in the first year of marriage. I was unconvincingly arguing with myself that i do care for him, i do want my marriage to last... etc etc. It was not until I read this ayah and others similar to this; that I understood what I should look for in my relationship and the buck stops with me!
Love is important but it is also transient. If you are living with a person till the proverbial "death do you part" - you must fully expect to have many many (many) days that you do not "love" them. What is it then that keeps the relationship afloat? Mercy. It is your willingness to go that extra step, just because. It is putting yourself in their shoes, and see things as they want you to. It is staying quiet in a fight, when you totally have a comeback. It is knowing that Allah has your back! It is mercy that will make you love them again. Infact this constant in your marriage will eventually grow the bond stronger and stronger.
Many a times we expect our spouses to be a certain way - romantically, physically, emotionally, financially, religiously - any or all of these! We try our sincerest to steer them in this direction and are horribly disappointed when we dont see the ugly duckling turn into the swan. We write off the person! Allah said man is impatient and indeed we are. We are so quick to judge those closest to us. Those about whom Allah has said they are like our garments. A lot of the times we distance ourselves from them and we believe the best way is to not have any expectations. This indifference creates a rift which lessens the mercy and increases the distances. We becomes strangers in the same house, till we dont even live in the same house.
We never think that our creator knows what is best for us and maybe certain people are put in our lives to change or better our mindsets. So what we believe to be the perfect situation, may not be so or that we ourselves are not ready for the change we want to see in our spouses. Instead of focusing on our own goals and actions thereof, we are just focusing on a wish list for what they should be. Dont forget the role of shaytan in all of this. He sees the crack and presents every opportunity for us to grow more and more dissatisfied.
Another thing that I see happening is that we feel we are so self-sufficent that we dont ask for help. Not from our family and not from Allah. We keep "dealing" with our issues till everything is too messed up and again the lack of mercy in our hearts lets us exaggerate and worsen the situation.
Allah says in the above ayah that HE puts the love and mercy in our hearts- so doesnt it only make sense to keep asking Him for it. Every married couple, no matter how long you have been married or how "solid" you think you guys are - should ask Allah to put love and mercy in both your hearts towards each other.
رَبَّنَا هَبۡ لَنَا مِنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعۡيُنٍ۬ وَٱجۡعَلۡنَا لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا (Surah Al Furqan, 74)
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Allah's best creation
While I was coming back from work today; the car in front me swerved as if to miss hitting something on the road. I saw it was a squirrel crossing the road, except that it was limping. I assumed it had been hit by a car or somehow lost it/broken its legs. It was barely crawling and there were 4 more lanes of high-traffic to cross. The 10 seconds it took me to drive by it; I saw it just standing still at the divider. My heart sunk. One of 2 very bleak futures lay ahead; either it would get run over when it crosses or it will die where it was. Since its the middle of the road with no pedestrian-crossing, no 'person' can save it. My heart broke, but i instantly thanked Allah - Alhamdolillah that He made me a 'person'. I have family and friends who would have cared for me had I been injured like that squirrel. Even if I had been hit on the road, some one would have come to my rescue.
We read it over and over again how the human being is Allah's best creation. We know it is because we have been given intellect and decision making power. Allah has made jannah and jahannum as reward for how we use that intellect and the decisions we make. Sometimes the weight of judgement day is so heavy, we wish were anything but a person. Sometimes, the world is so nasty we cant see the difference between a human and a wild beast. Yet today i saw why it is 'awesome' to be a human being. We take human compassion and the sense of community Allah has instilled in us for granted. We curse the human too easily - we overlook His infinite wisdom and mercy in our creation. Ya Rabb! You have indeed created a masterpiece in whatever you have created and the human being is a testament to that.
We read it over and over again how the human being is Allah's best creation. We know it is because we have been given intellect and decision making power. Allah has made jannah and jahannum as reward for how we use that intellect and the decisions we make. Sometimes the weight of judgement day is so heavy, we wish were anything but a person. Sometimes, the world is so nasty we cant see the difference between a human and a wild beast. Yet today i saw why it is 'awesome' to be a human being. We take human compassion and the sense of community Allah has instilled in us for granted. We curse the human too easily - we overlook His infinite wisdom and mercy in our creation. Ya Rabb! You have indeed created a masterpiece in whatever you have created and the human being is a testament to that.
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ فِىٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ۬
Friday, 21 September 2012
Ar-Rahman, Ar-Raheem
I have been so overwhelmed lately that even though I wanted to blog, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Yes i had work but that wasn't what overwhelmed me; rather the realization that my slightest good intention or wish hasn't gone unanswered. Such is the mercy of my Rabb! I believe I don't even put enough effort and somehow things just start working out beyond my expectations. I am so at a loss for words that all I can say is .... Alhamdolillah! I make dua that Allah teach me how to be grateful to Him so as to please Him. Ameen. My shoulders feel so heavy with the weight of this realization - its probably been there all my life I just never bothered to think about it. I'm burdened with His mercy and very afraid - what if I get my share in the dunya!?! Ya Raheem! Please raise the ranks of my deeds so I may be able to receive in the Akhirah.
One thing is for sure - with this realization, I will strive harder to please Allah and use the opportunities presented to me in the best way I know how. Ya Rabb! Help me. Ameen. The point of this post is 1) to acknowledge Allah's blessing 2) to make myself and you think off all the things that have 'just' worked out for the better. I guarantee you will find yourself being unable to count them. This is just one quality of our Rabb. He is Ar-Rahman - the one who gives without us even asking or trying hard enough.
One thing is for sure - with this realization, I will strive harder to please Allah and use the opportunities presented to me in the best way I know how. Ya Rabb! Help me. Ameen. The point of this post is 1) to acknowledge Allah's blessing 2) to make myself and you think off all the things that have 'just' worked out for the better. I guarantee you will find yourself being unable to count them. This is just one quality of our Rabb. He is Ar-Rahman - the one who gives without us even asking or trying hard enough.
Sunday, 1 July 2012
"I"-dolatory
Summer is here and Canada is abuzz with happy people and even more excited children. Its a time for celebration in this part of the world. Allah's bounties are plentiful in this season and each day is an opportunity to reflect on His infinite blessing, Alhamdolillah.
Another feature of this season are the lush front yards of people's houses. I admire rows upon rows of manicured lawns and the rainbow colored flowers. In addition you see garden gnomes, sculptures, lights and fountains and rock gardens and the list is endless. Its all very pretty but i wonder, how much does it cost? More-so, how much time and effort was put in this? I hear from friends who like gardening that its a taxing task, it requires daily supervision, work and care and you may have to sell a kidney for its upkeep (sarcasm!) People save for an entire season or a year even, to remodel their gardens. SubhanAllah! How hard they try to make their dunya into their jannah, whilst saving nothing for the real Jannah. If its not gardens, its kitchens with remodeling and upgrading from marble to granite and what not! Changing wall colors, furniture, flooring - its really endless! I have never heard anyone say yes! now the house is done, i dont need to change a single thing. When it finally does reach that level of satisfaction, guess what? Its time to sell! And it begins again.
The advent of Islam brought a profound principle to people's lives - There is only one Lord worthy of worship! The weaker sect of the society were amongst the first to accept because they understood what it was like to be enslaved, and they realized what kind of freedom Islam offered them. After being given this precious freedom, we choose to enslave ourselves to worldly desires. We may not be idol-worshipers, but we are worshiping something besides Allah. Worship is not sitting on a prayer mat, it is also not chanting or kneeling down - it is something greater and deeper than all that. Its the sincere love towards your lord which never lets you forget Him, its the fear of losing His mercy which makes you want to please Him. This worship is your everyday life, your every action even as self-indulgent as a good cup of tea that you read Bismillah on. When we indulge in worldly desires, then the love which was suppose to be Allah's alone, is now shared. Our desire for those things occupies our mind, till our days are spent wondering about it, acquiring it, beautifying it - these things become our idols - our existence revolves around them.
As Allah says "Allah hath not assigned unto any man two hearts within his body..." (Surat Al Ahzab v4). We have only one heart and only one sincere love can stay within - dunya or Allah. Dont get me wrong, it is not sinful to appreciate/enjoy this dunya, as it too is the creation of Allah. Just make sure you love the dunya, for the sake of Allah and then that love too will be worship. So in essence, the dunya and all its decorations and all its ties are a subset to the greater love.
You may think I'm being too excessive- just think back to your last remodeling/redecorating project, or even a party that you threw. How occupied was your heart and mind with its preparations? How much of money was spent on it? How much did it remind you of Allah? So, your time, money and love were spent but not in Allah's way.
The beauty of this balance and how you should recognize if you fall within this category, is that such a person would be focused and driven. This person has a bigger goal in life and his everyday is working towards that goal. He cannot afford to divert his attention from this greater goal and hence seems rushed, almost as if he needs to squeeze the khayr out of every second of the day. How can such a person engage in hours of shopping, gardening, remodeling or lazing? He is much too busy decorating his home in Jannah. I have seen such people and I really, truly aspire to be one of them. Ameeen Ya Rabbil Alameen.
Another feature of this season are the lush front yards of people's houses. I admire rows upon rows of manicured lawns and the rainbow colored flowers. In addition you see garden gnomes, sculptures, lights and fountains and rock gardens and the list is endless. Its all very pretty but i wonder, how much does it cost? More-so, how much time and effort was put in this? I hear from friends who like gardening that its a taxing task, it requires daily supervision, work and care and you may have to sell a kidney for its upkeep (sarcasm!) People save for an entire season or a year even, to remodel their gardens. SubhanAllah! How hard they try to make their dunya into their jannah, whilst saving nothing for the real Jannah. If its not gardens, its kitchens with remodeling and upgrading from marble to granite and what not! Changing wall colors, furniture, flooring - its really endless! I have never heard anyone say yes! now the house is done, i dont need to change a single thing. When it finally does reach that level of satisfaction, guess what? Its time to sell! And it begins again.
The advent of Islam brought a profound principle to people's lives - There is only one Lord worthy of worship! The weaker sect of the society were amongst the first to accept because they understood what it was like to be enslaved, and they realized what kind of freedom Islam offered them. After being given this precious freedom, we choose to enslave ourselves to worldly desires. We may not be idol-worshipers, but we are worshiping something besides Allah. Worship is not sitting on a prayer mat, it is also not chanting or kneeling down - it is something greater and deeper than all that. Its the sincere love towards your lord which never lets you forget Him, its the fear of losing His mercy which makes you want to please Him. This worship is your everyday life, your every action even as self-indulgent as a good cup of tea that you read Bismillah on. When we indulge in worldly desires, then the love which was suppose to be Allah's alone, is now shared. Our desire for those things occupies our mind, till our days are spent wondering about it, acquiring it, beautifying it - these things become our idols - our existence revolves around them.
As Allah says "Allah hath not assigned unto any man two hearts within his body..." (Surat Al Ahzab v4). We have only one heart and only one sincere love can stay within - dunya or Allah. Dont get me wrong, it is not sinful to appreciate/enjoy this dunya, as it too is the creation of Allah. Just make sure you love the dunya, for the sake of Allah and then that love too will be worship. So in essence, the dunya and all its decorations and all its ties are a subset to the greater love.
You may think I'm being too excessive- just think back to your last remodeling/redecorating project, or even a party that you threw. How occupied was your heart and mind with its preparations? How much of money was spent on it? How much did it remind you of Allah? So, your time, money and love were spent but not in Allah's way.
The beauty of this balance and how you should recognize if you fall within this category, is that such a person would be focused and driven. This person has a bigger goal in life and his everyday is working towards that goal. He cannot afford to divert his attention from this greater goal and hence seems rushed, almost as if he needs to squeeze the khayr out of every second of the day. How can such a person engage in hours of shopping, gardening, remodeling or lazing? He is much too busy decorating his home in Jannah. I have seen such people and I really, truly aspire to be one of them. Ameeen Ya Rabbil Alameen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)