Siraat-e-Mustaqeem

6:137 Even so, in the eyes of most of the pagans, their “partners” made alluring the slaughter of their children, in order to lead them to their own destruction, and cause confusion in their religion. If Allah had willed, they would not have done so: But leave alone them and their inventions

Wakathalika zayyana likatheerin mina almushrikeena qatla awladihim shurakaohum liyurdoohum waliyalbisoo AAalayhim deenahum walaw shaa Allahu ma faAAaloohu fatharhum wama yaftaroona

وَكَذَلِكَ زَيَّنَ لِكَثِيرٍ مِّنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ قَتْلَ أَوْلاَدِهِمْ شُرَكَآؤُهُمْ لِيُرْدُوهُمْ وَلِيَلْبِسُواْ عَلَيْهِمْ دِينَهُمْ وَلَوْ شَاء اللّهُ مَا فَعَلُوهُ فَذَرْهُمْ وَمَا يَفْتَرُونَ (6:137)

There are many similarities between the practices of pre-Islamic Arabia and the current non-muslim world

QATAL-E- AULAAD (Killing of children) in the past (pre-islamic era)
1. The pagans of pre-islamic Arabia in the time of Prophet Muhammad PBUH would bury their daughters alive as they were too arrogant to accept the idea of a daughter who would be under the wing of another man; Allah SWT forbade the killing of ones children.

2. The pagans would kill their children for fear of lack of food. Allah SWT assures us in the Quran that He (SWT) is Raziq, and every person is born with his or her sustenance and that a child should not be killed for fear of lack of sustenance.

017.031  Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin.

3. The pagans would offer their children to be killed for a pledge to their Gods e.g. Prophet Muhammad’s father (His grandfather practiced pagan rituals) was offered to the Gods as a sacrifice, as a pledge for finding the water well (the buried Zam Zam). Allah SWT forbade the killing of humans as a pledge.

And Now in the non-muslim world…………..
1. Girls are not desirable in many non-muslim parts of the world. Ultrasound is used in India to get rid of female children before birth. (My notes)

2. Many western parents feel they cannot “afford” the child and get the child aborted.

3. In some parts of the non-muslim world, sometimes people of lesser caste are sacrificed by the higher caste for a pledge completed by a particular God.

6:140 Lost are those who slay their children, from folly, without knowledge, and forbid food which Allah hath provided for them, inventing (lies) against Allah. They have indeed gone astray and heeded no guidance.

Qad khasira allatheena qataloo awladahum safahan bighayri AAilmin waharramoo ma razaqahumu Allahu iftiraan AAala Allahi qad dalloo wama kanoo muhtadeena

قَدْ خَسِرَ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُواْ أَوْلاَدَهُمْ سَفَهًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَحَرَّمُواْ مَا رَزَقَهُمُ اللّهُ افْتِرَاء عَلَى اللّهِ قَدْ ضَلُّواْ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهْتَدِينَ (6:140

6:140 Tafseer FH: Slaying of children was mainly a custom in the tribes of Razia and Muzar and not of every pagan tribe of Arabia. Allah SWT says that those who kill their children are in great folly due to their ignorance, lack of cognitive understanding, and the ignorance of ilm of deen.
They have made haraam that rizq (sustenance) which Allah has made halal.
These are people who are inventing lies about Allah. These people have gone astray and are not heeding any guidance from Allah.

Any mistakes in this post are from me, and may Allah SWT forgive me, and any good that is in it is from the guidance of Allah SWT.

** Tafseer taken from Farhat Hashmi (Taleem ul Quran 2006)

Picture courtesy of flikr (public )

Have you encountered child killing in this day and age and under what excuse?

Whatever Allaah does….it is for our best

by Asma bint Shameem

When my daughter was 2 years old, she loved to play with the water in the commode. Yes, that’s right….the commode. Yuck!! That’s nasty! You would say. But to her, that was the delight of the day! Splish…splash! To her there was nothing like it! And so when I would prevent her from it, she would scream and cry and wouldn’t want to stop. She didn’t understand how harmful that was for her. In her little mind, I took away something that she really enjoyed.

And when I would take her to the doctor to have her immunization shots, she didn’t understand either. She would howl at the top of her lungs at the first sight of the needle and would run the other way. It would take two of us just to hold her down! To her, frankly, it was plain torture! Her innocent little mind simply could not even begin to understand how, on earth, could being tortured by a needle, be good for you?!! She didn’t realize that this ‘needle’ will Insha Allaah protect her from certain illnesses and harm that is much more severe than the prick of this little needle.

So what’s the point here?

The point I am trying to make is that we, as parents sometimes do things for our kids, out of our great love and concern for them, which they may not understand. They do not see the wisdom behind it, although we do, and so we carry out those things because we know it will be better for them.

And for Allaah is the Highest example. (Surah Nahl:60) وَلِلّهِ الْمَثَلُ الْأَعْلَىَ

So when Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala , in His Infinite Wisdom, tests us with a situation that we think is difficult or takes away something that in our mind was good for us, we need to remember that perhaps it may not be so. Perhaps if we had continued in our way, it might have been harmful for us and whatever

Allaah decreed for us is actually better for us, for He is All-Wise and All-Knowing.

Allaah says:

“…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know.” (Surah Baqarah: 216)

Al-Hasan al-Basri said: “Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.”

Remember that we are dealing with the One who is Arham ar-Raahimeen, the Most Merciful of all that show mercy. All the mercy that we have in this world from Adam (Alaiyhi Salaam) to the Day of Judgment is only one hundredth of the Mercy of the Most Merciful. And He is Most Wise. He knows and we don’t know.

So have faith in Him and trust in Him and although, sometimes we may not understand the reason behind certain things, know that as long as you obey Him, whatever He will do for you is, in fact for your betterment.

So if Allaah didn’t give you that big house, or that nice car you wanted or that big raise you were hoping for, know in your mind and believe in your heart that it is actually better for you. Who knows…..maybe that big house, that car or that money would have become a source of ‘fitnah’ for you….Perhaps you would have become arrogant and conceited because of it, and Allaah saved you from it. Because, you know that the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Any one in whose heart is even a mustard seed’s worth of pride will not enter Paradise.” (Muslim)

And if you have been sick and suffering, sure it is not easy. But again, know in your mind and believe in your heart that it is indeed better for you. For, if you bear patiently, it will be a means of expiation for your sins and a source of great reward. The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allaah will record one good deed for him and will remove one bad deed from him.” (Muslim)

And: “On the Day of Resurrection, when people who had suffered affliction are given their reward, those who were healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world (when they see the immense rewards for the afflictions they suffered).” (Tirmidhi-Saheeh by al-Albaani)

If Allaah took away a dear, loved one, believe, from the bottom of your heart, that surely this was better. For, you never know, had the one who passed away lived longer, may be his life would have been one of sins and disobedience and Allaah, out of His Mercy, took him before that….in a state of Imaan.

And if life has been difficult, worries surround you and calamities after calamities befall you, hear the good news from the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam): “Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sin on them.” (Tirmidhi– saheeh by al-Albaani)

Subhaan Allaah! No sin?! And what is it from this world that you wouldn’t give up, just to meet Allaah with no sin??!!

Remember that the One Who is testing you is the Most Wise, the Most Merciful and the Most Loving…..and that He did not send this calamity in order to destroy you….or cause you pain or finish you off. Rather, He is checking on you, testing your patience, acceptance and faith; it is so that He may hear your du’a and supplication, so that He may see you standing before Him….seeking His protection….filled with humility and complaining to Him, alone. The difficulties you face is a reminder for you to return to Allaah and ask for forgiveness from Him. Who knows… if He didn’t give you the difficulty, maybe you would have strayed from Him far, far away….

Ibn Taymiyah said: A calamity that makes you turn to Allaah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allaah.”

Thus in our times of trouble, when we go through pain and suffering and in our times of loss, we need to trust Allaah. We need to keep in mind that as long as we fear Him and try our best to obey Him, He will never do us wrong. He will protect us and guide us and do the best for us, no matter what the situation apparently looks like. Allaah says in a hadeeth Qudsi:

“I am as my slave thinks of me and I am with him whenever he remembers me.” (Agreed Upon).

It is actually a sign of our weakness and shortsightedness, that we tend to focus on the calamities themselves, without paying much attention to the benefits that they may bring. We also forget to look at all other innumerable blessings that we enjoy and see around us.

Our minds, our logic and our senses cannot even begin to fathom the Wisdom, the Knowledge and the Hikmah behind Allaah’s decisions and verdicts. It is He who is the Wise….it is He who is the Just and it is He who is the Knower of the unseen. If we trust in Allaah, He will suffice and it is He who will grant us goodness in any situation and under any circumstances.

“And when someone puts all his trust in Allah, He will be enough for him.” (Surah at-Talaaq:3)

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“If you put your trust completely in Allah, He will arrange for your sustenance in the same way as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with their stomachs empty and return filled in the evening.” (Tirmidhi-saheeh).

So trust Him….for, there is much reward in trusting Him…..it is Jannah. And there is sin in distrusting Him. Calamities and disasters are a test, and they are a sign of Allaah’s love for a person. They are like medicine: even though it is bitter, yet, in spite of its bitterness you still give it to the one whom you love….

“The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” (Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)

Every mothers Day for the past few years I look at the Black Box. It sits in the recesses of my mind, securely lidded and weighed down with the grief of the loss of my son, tied securely with the ribbons of the memories of my son.

Every mother’s day I want to peek in it, and usually resist.

One mother’s day I did opened it a crack. When I was faced with the force of what met me head on, I realized I was not ready to receive what wanted to come out of it.

Past resentments, happenings that I felt I should have avoided, sadnesses that were inflicted on me and my loved ones, and the utter helplessness of my mother and me, against time, adversarial people, the neediness of love and the unreliability of therapies.

I have come a long way in my understanding of the human spirit, acknowledgment of the power and love of Allah upon our lives and death and how humans beings are guided or misguided depending on who they choose as their awliya……….And yet I remain unsure how I will face the onslaught of the contents of the Black Box.

Even though I feel I am now better equipped to open the Black Box and face the past, I am still not sure whether I have the resilience to weather and bounce back from the onslaught of the demons inside the box including but not limited to those of grief, anger, resentment and palpable helplessness of me and my mother in past circumstances.

So…….why don’t I let it be? Closed and sealed till the Day of Judgment? The urge to open it and face the ghosts of my past, the mirror of my previous self and the need to purge everything is what drives that desire.

I find myself weak, and again this mother’s day I look at the black box for a long time and decide to leave it be for another period of time.

Instead I think of when she was youthful, beautiful and a gifted story teller, and I an avid story buff…………and sit down to write from memory outside the Black Box.

Do you have a black box ? What have you done with its contents?

Sufyan Al- Thawri (RA) said: “Allah the Exalted has created a breeze which blows in the early hours of the morning, that carries the dhikr and the supplications to the Supreme King”

He also said:” in the early hours of the night, a caller from under the Throne calls:” Let the worshippers rise”, and they will get up and pray till the early hours of dawn.

At that point a caller will call: ‘Let those who pray for forgiveness arise’, they will get up and seek forgiveness.

At dawn a caller will say: ‘Let the heedless arise, ‘and they will get up from their beds as the dead resurrected from their graves”

(Excerpted from Dear Beloved Son by Imam Abu Hamid Al Ghazali)

Last night Ben wrote………………..
“I hope you are doing well. I’m writing because a few of Tariq’s friends have been planning on how to remember Tariq at our graduation ceremonies this year. The planners for graduation decided that a good time to have one of his friends say a few words and lead a moment of silence for Tariq would be at Last Collection on Saturday, May 31, and it was decided that I should say a few words………….”

He attached an article he had written which said………..
“When I argue that we should embrace “ethical irreverence” as a concept, I mean to say that we must open our hearts to the people who have led us to where we are today. At the same time, we cannot afford to give our professors and parents the pedestal they might assume. We graduate to change the world, not to revere it.

As I write my last piece for The Phoenix, a newspaper for which I have written almost continuously since my second week as a student here, I think of would-be fellow graduate and my former Phoenix colleague, Tariq, who died in a car accident in July 2005. On the surface, our friendship may have seemed unlikely — I, a Jewish day school graduate from suburban Washington, DC; he, a Muslim from Georgia.

What we shared, and what I learned from him, were the seeds of what I am proposing here. His open-heart, love for his friends and love for life were complemented by a sense that no icon was too sacred for a good laugh or a little fun.

At newspaper meetings, he was always willing to challenge the conventional wisdom expressed during any debate, regardless of if we were discussing a profound political matter or whether or not to get pizza after a Monday night editorial board meeting.

In the spirit of ethical irreverence that Tariq, in many ways, embodied, I tried jokingly to provoke him by arguing at the cafeteria dinner that Abraham Lincoln was, in fact, our country’s worst president, as he should have just let the South secede so that we wouldn’t have to deal with it today.

Tariq, proud of home and family, clearly would not let this preposterous point stand. His defense of the South was just as vigorous as his epic discourses on the merits of “crunk” rapper Li’l Jon. I write this column with the memory of his unmistakable laugh and deep heart in my mind…………”

Soon after reading this, I thought………How amazingly lovely of Tariq’s friends to remember him as a rite of passage from college.

I immediately knew I could not miss this evening with Tariq’s friends as they meet for the last time to then be scattered like the petals of a dandelion by the wind of time.

And then the Executive Assistant from the Office of the President wrote…………..
“I am writing to let you know that as a part of the Commencement activities this year Tariq’s friends wanted very much to honor him and have selected his friend Ben to offer a tribute to him during the Last Collection on Saturday afternoon, May 31.
The President will, as well, speak of Tariq in his remarks to graduates and their families. We would like to invite you to attend the weekend’s events and ceremonies if you would wish to do so……….”

Do I wish to do so? Yes I do! Will I be able to sit through two days of remembrance, I would like to. It seems a rite of passage for me in seeing Tariq’s friends grow up and graduate and leave the confines of the college walls wearing his memory as a deep sweet fragrance which refreshes their life as they move on. Will it be easy?………No it will not.
Does Paul wish to do so………only to Ben’s talk. He does not feel he can sit through the graduation ceremonies. Will I ? I don’t know, but I feel I have to be there to represent Tariq and pass on his joy at this important milestone in the life of his friends.

So Paul does not? at least not to the graduation, And I do…..So where does that leave us?

In my minds eye I imagine the garden amphitheatre where the last drama of Tariq’s college life, and his friends will take place. His friends one by one will receive an acknowledgment of their maturity and their ability to survive the outer world, as they will pass in front of us enveloped in the happy aura of the event.

Sitting in the amphitheatre where I sat with Tariq in life, I will be with his friends knowing that he has already graduated into a Magnificient realm of Bliss where he is happy and well taken care of.

For Tariq, Im, Ebad and Nabeel, Allah SWT promises in Surah Al Insaan:

076.011: But Allah will deliver them from the evil of that Day, and will shed over them a Light of Beauty and (blissful) Joy.
076.012: And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a Garden and (garments of) silk.

076.013: Reclining in the (Garden) on raised thrones, they will see there neither the sun’s (excessive heat) nor (the moon’s) excessive cold.
076.014: And the shades of the (Garden) will come low over them, and the bunches (of fruit), there, will hang low in humility.
076.015: And amongst them will be passed round vessels of silver and goblets of crystal
076.016: Crystal-clear, made of silver: they will determine the measure thereof (according to their wishes).
076.017: And they will be given to drink there of a Cup (of Wine) mixed with Zanjabil
076.018: A fountain there, called Salsabil.
076.019: And round about them will (serve) youths of perpetual (freshness): If thou seest them, thou wouldst think them scattered Pearls.
076.020: And when thou lookest, it is there thou wilt see a Bliss and a Realm Magnificent.
076.021: Upon them will be green Garments of fine silk and heavy brocade, and they will be adorned with Bracelets of silver; and their Lord will give to them to drink of a Wine Pure and Holy.
076.022: “Verily this is a Reward for you, and your Endeavour is accepted and recognized.”

……………And for Ben and all of Tariq’s friends at college:

002.062 
 Those who believe (in the Qur’an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

Would you go to the graduation ceremony of the friends of your dead child? ………..And Should I?

Mothers Day is one day a year of celebration and remembrance for everyone ………….because everyone was born of a mother, whether she is present or absent.

For the motherless child we have the example of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who did not misuse his orphan status to become a delinquent or act out. He was grateful to Allah for all that he was given.

For a Childless mother we have the example of Sayidda Ayesha (RA) who while having the honor of being married to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) never had a child from him, and yet is the mother of an Ummah of millions.

If one looks closely one is never really childless or motherless. By looking at the world globally and expanding the circle of love beyond the ties of blood, one is enveloped by the Love Allah sends us through His (SWT) creation. We just have to remember not to reject it just because we may be missing our blood kin.

I will always miss the child who is beyond my reach of physical touch, but I am grateful to Allah SWT for all those young people who have given me their love and compassion unconditionally and generously.

May Allah reward them and put love in their lives and make their path towards the love of Allah easy in this world with Jannah as their goal.

Dear N,
Asalaam-o-alaikum,

We always like to tell people younger than us what to do and how to do it. In the west the young people’s response to this is that they tell the elders to mind their own business, in the east they listen politely and do exactly what they want to do.

So why do we continually give them unsought advice? I guess the key word here is unsought.
Let me share a story I am thinking of when I was a third year medical student in Karachi in a five year medical degree program. I am remembering this as I sit in the audience watching you and your classmates graduate from Medical School:

I am at Khalaji’s; I have decided to stop by after a hot day at Dow Medical College in Karachi. Khalaji and I have had an altercation sometime back. I with the limited knowledge of a third year medical student have diagnosed that she is perhaps in heart failure. She refuses to go to the Doctor or to the hospital.

I coax her till she reluctantly agrees. I call the rickshaw, her daughter J and I squeeze in with her and we are off to see my Medicine Professor who is a perfect gentleman. He opens the door for her with a flourish, salaams her with great humility and respect and leaves us outside while he sees her in his academic consulting office.

She comes out smiling and shows me the little pills he has not only prescribed but has sent his peon to get them for her. The event is over but she is sullen and feels resentful of her illness and indirectly resentful of me, as I am the bearer of the news of her illness.
Many months have passed since this episode and she is well and back to her old energetic self. Her cardiac failure has resolved.

So today……..I am heading towards her house. I want to see her and J, eat pakoras with her, drink tea and shoot the breeze

I almost run up the steps to her house two at a time and find myself ringing the bell. J opens the door and as I step in, I hear Khalaji calling me. How did she know it is me?

I walk in to her room, taking off my white coat. She commands me to come close and holds my face in her hand and kisses my cheeks and hands with gusto and with a devastatingly affectionate smile.
She then holds my head in her hands and gives me this dua:

May you become the best, biggest (waddi) and most famous Doctor and may you travel all over the world teaching people medicine.

Her hazel eyes mist over as she kisses my forehead and lets me go.

I laugh and tell her the chances of my doing that are slim and proceed to the kitchen to watch the pakoras being made as I sample them and chat with J. All is soon forgotten.

Recently I counted the twenty-six countries that I have been to, more than half are countries where I was invited to speak, teach a course or give a research paper. I am humbled……………Khalajis dua floating in the Universe long after she is gone, carrying me to the far corners of the world, opening my eyes, my brain and…….my heart. Just one dua!

So N, I know you are a good son, a wonderful friend and inshallah a compassionate doctor. As you graduate today, I will not burden you with what I think you should do or become.

My dua for you simply is:

May you get your heart’s desire and may Allah beautify it for you.
Ameen.

May Allah reward you with Khair,
Affectionately yours,
Auntie A

This post is an attempt to answer some of the questions that came up from the post ” Are we holding a gift or a loan? . Please read the questions in the comment section of this post as I am going to answer these questions to the best of my ability. Any mistakes in it are from me and may Allah forgive me and any good that comes from it is from Allah SWT.

Long time ago our father Adam (AS) was disobedient to Allah SWT for which he was banished to this world, along with his wife Hawa. (Surah Baqara)
He repented and Allah SWT forgave him but said that they would be sent to this earth for a designated time:

SUPPLICATION OF ADAM (AS):
007.023 
YUSUFALI: They said: “Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If thou forgive us not and bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.”

Iblis in his arrogance was also disobedient to Allah by not bowing to Adam (AS) because he thought since he was made of fire and in his opinion fire was superior to clay (first act of racism), he would not bow to someone made of clay.

020.116 
YUSUFALI: When We said to the angels, “Prostrate yourselves to Adam”, they prostrated themselves, but not Iblis: he refused.

Iblis was also banished.

Iblis asked Allah SWT to give him the opportunity to prove his point on earth and prove that man was inferior to him (Iblis). He promised to whisper and encourage acts of disobedience in the ears of the progeny of Adam (AS) to show how inferior clay was and how they would disobey Allah.
Allah gave him permission to live on this earth till the Day of Judgment.
Allah SW said that you will never be able to misguide my righteous momins. (Surah Baqara)

The question comes up ………which world is more desirable to the Momin? This Dunya or the Hereafter in which we hope to attain Jannah?

6:2 He it is created you from clay, and then decreed a stated term (for you). And there is in His presence another determined term; yet ye doubt within yourselves!
Huwa allathee khalaqakum min teenin thumma qada ajalan waajalun musamman AAindahu thumma antum tamtaroona
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن طِينٍ ثُمَّ قَضَى أَجَلاً وَأَجَلٌ مُّسمًّى عِندَهُ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تَمْتَرُونَ (6:2)

So what does this have to do with our sons?
Our boys (Nabeel, Tariq, Im & Ebad) died early in their youth and left this earth, which is full of strife, greed and temptations (whisperings of the Shayateen). They were spared many of the effects of this dunya. They died innocent before they could be tempted to commit the disobedience of Allah. Allah SWT forgives the sins of those who die young and innocent.
These children who die young will inshallah be granted Paradise, and as I am told, at the gates of Jannah, before entering they will pause, for their righteous parents and perhaps their parents will accompany them into Jannah based on the behavior of the parents in this world and during their test.
So would we want our children to have the bounties of this world or the bounties of jannah?
In Surah Al Insaan Allah SWT describes what awaits the righteous, our children and hopefully us inshallah.

If I look around there are far more sinners enjoying the gifts of Allah in this world. So why was I chosen? (for this test)
This world is a nano second compared to the one in which we will be living forever, Allah SWT repeatedly says that the righteous will be in Jannah forever, and the unrepentant sinners will be in the Fire for ever (Abada).

If sinners are enjoying the gifts of Allah in this world that is also a test to see how far they go and do they recognize where this is coming from? Allah SWT says that he tests not only by depriving his ebad of what they love but also by giving them abundance and see if we acknowledge and are grateful for his bounties in this world. (Surah Al Anaam)

6:165 It is He Who hath made you (His) agents, inheritors of the earth: He hath raised you in ranks, some above others: that He may try you in the gifts He hath given you: for thy Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Wahuwa allathee jaAAalakum khalaifa alardi warafaAAa baAAdakum fawqa baAAdin darajatin liyabluwakum fee ma atakum inna rabbaka sareeAAu alAAiqabi wainnahu laghafoorun raheemun
وَهُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَكُمْ خَلاَئِفَ الأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ دَرَجَاتٍ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا
We believe as Allah SWT tells us in the Quran that it is on the Day of Judgment that the true rewards and bounties will be distributed based on how we conducted ourselves in this world of our own free will. (Surah Al Insaan)
But if our death is fixed at the time of birth then why go through all these elaborate treatments?
Prophet Muhammad PBUH said there is a treatment for all ills except old age. In my humble review and understanding of what Allah SWT wants from us: We are using Allah SWT gift of shifa to find the treatment and use it to improve the quality of life of our patients. We may thus be enabling them to become better ebad for their Creator by removing their disabilities and physical ailments. These may have become a distraction in their ability to seek the Almighty, and our assistance in treating their ailments may place them back on Siraat e Mustaqeem, or give them the desire to seek it.
This is my understanding of life after Tariq. I don’t have the in depth knowledge of the Quran and Sunnah, the study of which may open many more doors to our understanding of events and human behavior.
Allah knows best!

6:12 Say: “To whom belongeth all that is in the heavens and on earth?” Say: “To Allah. He hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. That He will gather you together for the Day of Judgment, there is no doubt whatever. It is they who have lost their own souls, that will not believe.
Qul liman ma fee alssamawati waalardi qul lillahi kataba AAala nafsihi alrrahmata layajmaAAannakum ila yawmi alqiyamati la rayba feehi allatheena khasiroo anfusahum fahum la yuminoona
قُل لِّمَن مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ قُل لِلّهِ كَتَبَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ (6:12)

And Inshallah for our children and hopefully for us:

6:127 For them will be a home of peace in the presence of their Lord: He will be their friend, because they practised (righteousness).
Lahum daru alssalami AAinda rabbihim wahuwa waliyyuhum bima kanoo yaAAmaloona
لَهُمْ دَارُ السَّلاَمِ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَهُوَ وَلِيُّهُمْ بِمَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ (6:127)

Dedicated to Br Anis, a father, a physician, and a parent in pain who is searching for answers just like all of us parents who have lost our children.

Do you have answers to these questions?

My dear S,

Asalaam o alaikum! May Allah shower His blessings on you at this lovely time of your life and always.

I never had a sister, and neither did my daughter. Somewhere in the four years of college with you, your name became an often-mentioned part of conversation with Shireen. We had seen you at college but never really knew you personally till later.

When you moved to the Medical School here, I began to realize with great joy in my heart that Shireen had found a sister.

Today as you graduate, proving to all and yourself that you have completed with honors the rigors of prolonged continuous learning, of long hours of exhaustion while maintaining your empathy, courtesy and smile for your patients and your patience at the questioning look or enquiries into your hijab, my prayers of wellbeing for now and your future are with you.

I know it has been a trial balancing your duties as a physician, a daughter, a sister and a friend and more recently an Islamic youth counselor.

How easily we allocate titles and slots for a lifetime of dedication and energy and leave it at that. I realize, appreciate and deeply respect all that you have done and continue to do for the sake of others.

I remember calling you when SA’s father died in a car wreck similar to Tariq and I was worried that Shireen would be alone when she heard of it. You rushed over to see her and keep her company.
May Allah SWT always keep you company in the severest of your trials if they ever occur and may He SWT prevent them from touching you with sadness or strife.

I remember when you were in a car wreck and were reluctant to go to the ER. However, you agreed to do so at my insistence. I was amazed at your patience with the slow as molasses service with no complaints of the pain, you were in.

May Allah SWT never test you with pain and may you always remain healthy and energetic in your quest to help children in their illness. May He (SWT) always protect you from the diseases you come in contact with and those you don’t.

I remember when your mother suddenly fell ill. I was so touched by your beautiful mixture of daughter’s love and the physicians firm nudging towards rehabilitating your mother, resulting in her recovery.
May Allah (SWT) allow your parents to witness and bless the happiest moments of your life in full and for you to be able to share with them the inner happiness of your heart.

I remember other strife and heartache that you have experienced and all I can say with some measure of certainty based on experience that it too is a part of the process of the fire that burns off all impurities purifying the heart.
May Allah SWT surprise you with much personal joy far beyond your expectations, and give you a joyful heart.

It is with deepest joy that I write this note while my heart is filled with duas for you, for now and for your future.

May your future hold the blossoms of love, respect, and fulfillment of your life goals. May each blossom fragrant with duas be offered to you as a posy as you traverse the steps of life as a physician.

May each dua fill your walk with fragrance as you tread the path of your Deen with dignity and taqwa in this Dunya.

May Allah always be by your side guiding you to the path of jannah, one step at a time till you can smell its fragrance ……… Ameen.
With love always!
Your Auntie A