ON MY KNEES……………….

I am listening to the tafseer of Surah Al Anaam, I think Allah Subhanawataala sent it to our Prophet Peace and blessings be upon him, especially for me. At every turn of the sentence there is a nuance of encouragement, a message of warning and a message of change that speaks to me.

It takes me to the times when the surah is revealed. The Quraish of Mecca are strong, wealthy and rich in knowledge, trade and male children. They are happy with their evolved lifestyle of many Gods, even though they had started out with only one God along with Abraham (AS).

I am stunned with the realization that what happened to them is happening to us. Somewhere in our hijra from our home countries in search of a better life for our children, seeking a challenge to our intellectual abilities to help save the world in the fields of medicine and engineering, we lost the purpose of living, and our true endpoint in our destination became hazy.

Most of all, on stepping into the race to get ahead where the coin of success was arrogance, stepping on the weak and an “in your face” attitude, we trained our self for the race with the will and perfection of true competitors. We had the right tools just the wrong destination.

As we continued in the race, there came a fork in the road, we forgot in the heat of competition where we were supposed to turn. We avoided the less traveled path of the Siraat-e Mustaqeem and took the fork in the road that everyone else seemed to be taking.

Instead of using our assets only to glorify Him (SWT) and help His (SWT) creation, we stepped on them like a runner stepping on the flowers and insects that lay in his path.

The goal of Allah SWT is to pick the truly humble abd, who has submitted all and everything of his outer and inner being to Him (SWT) for the inner most gardens of Jannah.

Thus while we were running in an unknown direction heedlessly, He (SWT) was watching patiently, waiting for us to turn back to Him (SWT) in repentance and onto the less traveled Siraat-e – Mustaqeem. He was going to test the runners with strife and evaluate the level of humility before He (SWT) chose them for the inner most gardens of Jannat ul Firdous

True humility comes when one is stripped layer by layer of all of ones accoutrements that may be leading to arrogance, worldly ambition, greed and heedlessness. The last few characteristics mentioned may stem from wealth, education, healthy children, an aristocratic ancestry, a syed ancestry, and a blind heedlessness to the guidance of the Quran.

This level of insensitivity and superficial nod to the Quran may stem either from immersion in other things leaving no time to reflect on the word of God, or a supercilious attitude of “knowing it all” and intellectualizing and marginalizing the various excerpts of the Quran in which Allah (SWT) demands absolute and complete humility from His (SWT) true abd.

How could this happen to us?

Most of us who are in a race to “better ourselves” either for ourselves or to bring a better future for our children we fool ourselves into thinking that all this money that we are amassing in gold jewelry, in demonstration of beautifully decorated homes, in gorgeous spouses and perfect children with perfect grade point averages, landing a good well paying job are really just our dedication to our children and isn’t that what Islam is all about?

Meanwhile we look down upon those who are lesser off than us, wonder why this black person cant get a job and quit asking for help or why other peoples children don’t excel…………..Somewhere in this thinking process when we cross the line then the long leash given to us is yanked by Allah and we are hobbled till we come to our knees.

we either lose our wealth and have to beg and borrow like the black person we despised, or our child or spouse is afflicted with an untreatable illness, or our child leaves the fold of Islam and flagrantly flaunts the fact, and or……. dies.

All these are ways that Allah SWT hobbles the arrogant, the greedy, the heedless and sometimes even the virtuous to test their sincerity in their slave hood to Allah (SWT).

Each one of us will have an affliction of some sort, either in us or in our spouses or children. No person and I repeat with certainty No person who yearns for Jannah will escape this test.

It is my certain belief that the path to Jannah has to be traversed on our knees and our foreheads, in rukus, tashahuds, and sajdahs………so why am I still standing?

All I can feel now, is regret, repentence and …………more Istighfaar, so Help Me God!

 

Look at your innermost self, do you have any regrets…………..?

TODAY J GOT ENGAGED……

Once upon a time……………….there were three little boys who grew up to become handsome young men, today one of the three got engaged.
On hearing the news my first emotion was joy, followed by thankfulness at the choice of the lovely girl who has a sincere awareness of deen.
Between the edges of the joy crept in the vision of my son and Im. This is going to be a challenging year, I can tell, there are going to be some hallmark milestones: Engagements and graduations.
Tariq’s best friend is engaged and he is not here to laugh his wonderfully characteristic laugh of joy and encourage him with that deep seriousness with a glint of affection and the promise of eternal friendship. Im with his sweet, innocent countenance perhaps would following suit. Both inshallah in Jannah!
I open Tariq’s computer and there is his wish list not of spouses but names of his future children. I count there are seven…….. all girls.
I have to stop this track of thought; Our Prophet said regret should be followed by Istighfaar. Never look back except to learn from ones follies.
There is no “kaash” in our path of Deen, one has to move forward to change what one can and accept what one cannot.
This Hadith has prevented me from swirling into the unknown paralyzing depths of …”what if Tariq had lived?” It allows my energies to be used for the living and for preparation of the Akhirah.

However at such moments as above suddenly the bottom at my feet sometimes slides open like a trapdoor, inviting me to look in at the mist of memories, which never will have any substance.
Allah Subhanawaataala says and I paraphrase : “I have decreed on you what has happened to you, if I have given someone else something you wanted and if you are unhappy with it or envious of the state of another, you are then challenging My decree.” Since I have read this, it has put the fear of God in me.
I pull myself out of my reverie to pray for J and his fiancée. May Allah give them a partnership that would support, assist and make their path to jannah easy.

THE CAPRICIOUS HEART: 6: 42-44

I feel I have stumbled on a text on Cardiology and Neurology dealing with the diseases of the heart and how they affect the brain and the psyche. The parallels are exact.
How could I have studied medicine for so long and not drawn the parallels. I guess the lesson is that every child must learn not only to read the Quran in Arabic but also to understand Quranic Arabic.
Having said so, reviewing the tafseer of Surah Al- Anaam has been a process of digging for emeralds, within each word of the ayah is embedded a shaft of pure beauty, and as I happen upon it with the help of our Sheikha at the retreat and Farhat Hashmi via internet, (May Allah reward them both), I stop in midstream and rewind to confirm that I heard what I thought I heard. So here is my cut and dried summary, hope you can evaluate your heart and begin the therapy as soon as possible.
Allah SWT in addressing RasoolAllah on this auspicious night via His message sent through 70,000 angels gives him (PBUH) the examples of past nations and past apostles sent to them and how they were tested…….and then comes the present, for the Quraish and for us today…….!
Summary of Surah Al Anaam:42-44 Our response to calamities
picture taken seconds before tsunami (author unknown)

The test of Allah is of two kinds. An individual or a nation as a whole may be tested:
1. Deprivation of Naimah
2. Excessive bounties from Allah (Even to a disobedient nation or individual)

Reasons for the Tests/calamity for an individual or as a nation:
Allah wishes to draw his abd closer to Him, thus when she is straying into the danger zone of hurting herself irrevocably then Allah jerks her back to safety by removing the distraction or enticing her with a lot of naimah. Both are tests, the loss of naimah as well as excessive naimah, the later being the greater test. Both are to draw the abd closer to Allah.

The responses of the people inflicted with affliction have two states of the heart resulting from their actions and thoughts and their distancing or proximity to Allah and His word and guidance (The Quran):
1. Softening/pliability/clarity of the heart
2. Hardening of the heart
Allah wants our hearts to soften and become pliable and humble as they are vessels in the body that carry Allah’s love, He wants the softened heart to be humble and have feelings of compassion, love and caring for other communities that Allah has created. He has also sent light (The Quran) to illuminate the soft and pliable heart
Conditions of the Heart change over time and circumstances, thus one should not become complacent with the current condition but remain ever vigilant to attain or maintain its pliability and I don’t mean by measuring cholesterol levels.
i.e. soft pliable and humble hearts can become hard and vice versa.
Signs of a hardening heart:
1. In Tanhai, (khalwah): if one is bored when one is alone and feverishly looks for people, music or things to fill his time, then one is not close to Allah. If he were close to Allah, he would never feel alone and would welcome the alone time with Him.
2. While reading Quran: evaluate our heart, are we understanding and connecting with it?
3. Majlis of ilm of deen: Are we are bored and unable to sit in a majlis of ilm of deen, that is a sign that our heart is hardening.
Dua for Qalb-e- Saleem: I don’t know this one…. can someone fill in?
If one does not call for Allah when one is hit with a calamity then one becomes remote from Allah and his heart hardens and the last sign of hardening is that one does not like Allah’s word, and actually starts’ genuinely enjoying the disobedience of Allah, and the disobedience appears beautiful to him as Shaitan beautifies evil.
Whatever disobedience one is doing, one becomes very happy with their condition.
Diagnosis of a hardening heart:
The heart is hardening if one has the following:
1. Enjoying disobedience of Allah
2. Arrogance in talk, walk and behavior, (e.g. One example among many is not giving salaam first, not smiling, not crying on something sad, not happy when there is a cause of genuine pure happiness of another, not sharing the sadness of a fellow human or animal)
Hardening of the heart varies in degrees. The longer the heart remains hardened, the worse it becomes and the more difficult it becomes to heal the heart and make it pliable again and fill it with the love of Allah and light of His word.

How to treat the hardened heart as per RasoolAllah (PBUH)
1. Read the Quran a lot (kasarath)
2. Remember death a lot (kasarath)
3. Dhikr of Allah (Stress makes the heart weaker, stress relief is by Dhikr of Allah)
4. Initially when one has a hardened heart, it may be difficult to make Dhikr by oneself then one should frequent the majlis of the ilm of deen and keep the suhbah (company) of people who are righteous and join them to do Dhikr and get closer to Allah.
5. Work with or be with orphans, help the poor and the sick, feed the needy, help the disadvantaged people who are on this earth and Allah will help you (Quran)
6. Be Affectionate and kind to the weak and the young
7. Stay away from assemblies of disobedience and people who are disobedient. (My addition from Sheikh Magroubi’s sessions)

Allah Subhanawataala states in Surah Al Anaam:

6:42 Before thee We sent (apostles) to many nations, and We afflicted the nations with suffering and adversity, that they might learn humility.

Walaqad arsalna ila omamin min qablika faakhathnahum bialbasai waalddarrai laAAallahum yatadarraAAoona
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلنَآ إِلَى أُمَمٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ (6:42)

6:43 When the suffering reached them from us, why then did they not learn humility? On the contrary their hearts became hardened, and Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them.
Falawla ith jaahum basuna tadarraAAoo walakin qasat quloobuhum wazayyana lahumu alshshaytanu ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
فَلَوْلا إِذْ جَاءهُمْ بَأْسُنَا تَضَرَّعُواْ وَلَـكِن قَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَزَيَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ مَا كَانُواْ يَعْمَلُونَ (6:43)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
6:44 But when they forgot the warning they had received, We opened to them the gates of all (good) things, until, in the midst of their enjoyment of Our gifts, on a sudden, We called them to account, when lo! they were plunged in despair!
Falamma nasoo ma thukkiroo bihi fatahna AAalayhim abwaba kulli shayin hatta itha farihoo bima ootoo akhathnahum baghtatan faitha hum mublisoona
فَلَمَّا نَسُواْ مَا ذُكِّرُواْ بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّى إِذَا فَرِحُواْ بِمَا أُوتُواْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ (6:44)
One of the Signs of having Imaan, when one is obedient to Allah one is happy

What is the state of your heart?

LIGHT……………..AND SURAH AL-ANAAM

I am awakening from the compulsory rest after the Ishraaq prayer. I am surprised to find myself clear headed despite the minimum hours of sleep.

The morning session of the retreat is on Surah Al Anaam is a reckoning for us. It begins with turning our attention to the overt signs of Allah that we have so far taken for granted.

Excerpt from the session:

The Objectives of the Surah

Surah Al-An’am begins with; “Praise be to Allah Who created the heavens and the earth” (TMQ, 6:1). This ayah is enough to make any Muslim feel the main objective and the core idea of the Surah from the very beginning. It is to profess belief in the unity of Allah (SWT), to reject polytheism, and to fill your heart with His love and nothing but His love,and this is what the Surah was revealed for.

This message of monotheism is repeated 49 times in 49 different ayahs, which is about 30% of the Surah. Hence, the reason behind its magnificent revelation and why 70 thousand angels accompany it becomes quite clear. Moreover, the significance of the time of its revelation (night), which is the most appropriate time for such a spiritual atmosphere.(end excerpt)

My understanding of it:

The concept of light (singular) and darkness (plural) is in the opening ayah:

6:1 Praise be Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the darkness and the light. Yet those who reject Faith hold (others) as equal, with their Guardian-Lord. Alhamdu lillahi allathee khalaqa alssamawati waalarda wajaAAala alththulumati waalnnoora thumma allatheena kafaroo birabbihim yaAAdiloonaالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّهِم يَعْدِلُونَ (6:1)

The concept of light (singular) and darkness (plural) as I understood it:

Darkness (plural in Arabic) is more that one:

1. The darkness of Kufar

2. The darkness of the Disobedience of Allah

3. The darkness of Shirk

Light…..There is a single light which when brought into the heart fills it with light, thus illuminating every aspect of our life’s journey and our death:

THE QURAN IS THE LIGHT, the source of it and when it is reflected within the heart and soul of a person, it lights the way for him or her in this world and the Hereafter.

As long as one is without Light, one is lost and going round and round in circles, without reaching ones destination.

The word of Allah in the Quran when absorbed into our hearts and embodied in our senses, reflected upon by our brain and performed by our limbs, unfolds a brilliantly lighted path in front of us towards Jannah and the much anticipated meeting with Allah jalayjalalahu!

SubhanAllah Is that a goal to work towards or is it………………?

Is there light in your life.?

THE WAITING ROOM

It is strange how an inanimate object can pull out a memory from the well of the heart as fresh as if it was today.

I am entering the waiting room of the dental office. The pristine chairs and the particular fragrance of the medical cleaning agent greet me, as I turn the corner there is the chair.

I see him sitting there, his long lanky athletic legs stretched out his feet loosely shod in blue flip-flops. He is watching some soccer game on the waiting room TV. His hair thick and black is slightly greasy from not being washed today.  He says today is his day” off “ because he is getting all four wisdom teeth out.

I am business like and appearing ‘not worried’, he is nonchalant, and hiding his anxiety well if any.

I look around……… all the inanimate pieces are in place but my live vibrant son is missing, as if there is a hole in the wall.

 

I know at some higher level of consciousness that these are not the kinds of emotions I need, to heal after dental surgery, but what can I do when I can see his athletic legs sprawled out in blue flip flops…….

Before my heart loses its grip on the now and why I am here, a shield appears, my lips move without volition and I repeat:

لا إلهَ إلاّ الله، وحدَهُ لا شريكَ لهُ، لهُ المُـلْكُ ولهُ الحَمْد، وهوَ على كلّ شَيءٍ قَدير.

 

“Laa ilaaha illa Allaahu wahdahu laa sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ‘alaa kulli shay’in qadeer. ”

 

“None is worthy of worship except Allaah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He has power over all things.”

The supplication rises to Him (SWT); and even though Tariq’s image remains vivid in my mind’s eye, the intense tsunami of grief that was rising inexorably is stemmed for now.

The nurse comes to call me and I leave the waiting room laden with memories, to go for my procedure.

 

Sending Rewards

As soon as a person expires all his deeds come to an end except for the following three:-

1. Sadqa-Jariah, i.e. a deed that continues on (for example, financing the opening for a medical clinic for the poor, building a mosque, school, etc.)

2. Leaving behind such knowledge which will benefit people after one’s death (for example, teaching and imparting knowledge, writing a good book which others may continue benefiting from, a useful scientific invention, etc.)

3. Pious offspring who prays for the deceased.The best thing the bereaved person can do for the departed soul is to pray sincerely for his forgiveness.

Another way of sending rewards to the deceased person is to do those things, which aid in fulfilling the pending obligations of the deceased, for example:

1. By paying off a loan on his behalf, by giving the kaffarah for missed fasts

2. Fulfilling a lawful nazar (vow) made by the deceased person in his lifetime. An example of this could be an intention on the part of the deceased to perform the obligatory Hajj, but for one reason or another he was unable to do so.

3. If any relative gives something in charity or offers a sacrifice on behalf of the deceased, it will be a source of reward for both.

4, By making members of his household, followers of the Quran and Sunnah. This way the deceased will be ensured constant rewards.

Allah knows best.

ARE DOGS INCLUDED…..

I have always been petrified of dogs after a bad experience in childhood. Thus going for a walk instead of a being a relaxing event has always been one on which I have had to remain vigilant and careful.

I decided to try something different the last two times when I went for a walk. As I approached a dog I recited la illa ha illalla Muhammad der Rasoolallah. I am amazed at the response of the dogs. It is as if I am one of them and they do not even take notice of me, they leave me alone and don’t harass me.
I have always thought that animals are less torturing to each other than humans. We teach them to be cruel. They kill for food and fear, never for sport.
I was intrigued and surprised that in the Surah Al Anaam; Allah Subhanawataala says He has made communities of animals just like communities of humans.
The tafseer explains (Farhat hashmi & the retreat): Each ant, each flying insect each animal that lives on this earth is written up in Allah’s inventory, they all belong to Him. He has written the decree for animals as well as men. This ayah is a reminder to us of Tawheed e Ruboobiya.
On the Day of Judgment the animals will be raised and their account will be taken as to who treated whom unjustly and then they will be returned to dust.
This has given me a new view of the dogs that I was not only afraid of but I also did not like. I know now that they are all subservient to Allah SWT and thus when I recite the kalima they recognize me as one who is also subservient. It makes me humble.
Quran: 6:38 There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.

Wama min dabbatin fee alardi wala tairin yateeru bijanahayhi illa omamun amthalukum ma farratna fee alkitabi min shayin thumma ila rabbihim yuhsharoona

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرنَ (6:38 )
Sadaqallah al azeem!

How do you treat the animals you encounter?

THE RETREAT:INTRODUCTION TO SURAH AL-ANAAM

I am at the retreat. A retreat on Tawheed. The weather is freezing, we are in a large gym, and it is threatening to snow. Life’s stresses and outside contacts are ready to be broken or held in abeyance, all cell phones are off and all brains are tuned in with a focused energy on the message.

For once in my lifetime I am in a room where I am completely in tune with one hundred women from diverse backgrounds in race, culture and creed.

Sister H opens the evening with the praise of Allah, salutations to the Prophet, and supplications for an open mind for the gift of learning…. She is a Sheikha though she considers herself a student of Deen.

“ The ultimate goal of Ilm (knowledge) is Tawheed of Allah”. What is Tawheed? I think and she answers…. “Tawheed is defined as the active continuous affirmation of the oneness of Allah”

The session begins with the opening scene of the revelation of this magnificent Surah. The Surah Al Anaam brought as an offering of Tawheed to Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings upon him.

He (PBUH) is in Mecca, times are tough and painful, he has lost his beloved wife Khadija (RA) and his grandfather, protector and elder from the clan of Quraish Abu Talib, has also passed away.

The Quraish have become increasingly mean and vicious, he (PBUH) is bleeding externally from the stones thrown at him in Taif, and hurting internally by the rejection of the message he brings to his family and friends who are steadily ridiculing him.

He is sad but not despondent, sad that he is unable to instill the beauty, clarity and peace of THE message in the hearts of the pagans…….. What is he to do?

 

In the night arrives a contingent of seventy thousand angels with the entire presentation of the Surah Al Anaam.

The spectacle is described as breath taking; the angels filling the horizon are glorifying Allah and making a sound with their wings. Gabriel (AS) presents all 165 ayahs to Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings upon him in this one night.

Starting with…”Praise be to Allah who created the Heavens and the earth…”

And ending with: “He may try you with the gifts he has given you…”

A Surah with the hard strength of many mountains, the softness and affection of solace from His Lord, the beauty of the universe described and laid upon him (PBUH) to reflect in perspective, the promise of success from his Lord, and the Ten commandments (6:151-152) for the believer….

I am rooted to my chair, I had no idea of the innate power of every word in this Surah and the fanfare with which it was brought to our Prophet………

The night has snuck in on the footsteps of the evening and the tafseer breaks for prayer.

One hundred women silently line up and the beauty of being with our Lord in Jamaat is recreated in this gym so far away from the House of our Lord and yet so close in spirit to it.

I feel loved by Him (SWT) He has brought me this far to give me the message of Tawheed, I am humbled and I feel blessed. He has surrounded me with one hundred spiritual women who treat me as if they have known me all my life.

I taste the true essence of muslim sisterhood with the shared etiquette of the sweetness of tongue and the silence of Dhikr. I look forward to the rest of the retreat with anticipation.

Little do I know what a roller coaster ride it will be for my heart and my body. The powerful message of the Surah Al Anaam, the soul searching alternating with the challenging hours of the Qiyam al Layl.

RETREAT SCHEDULE: Surah Al- Anaam

 I have decided to go to this retreat which is an entire weekend dedicated to the study of Tawheed, given in Surah AL Anaam. Just sharing with you.

FRIDAY
1:10 pm Juma’a Salaat
3:00 – 4:00 Registration, Preparation
4:00 – 4:30 Asr Salaat and Dhikr
4:30 – 5:45 Welcome Session
6:00 – 6:30 Maghrib Salaat and Dhikr
6:30 – 7:30 Dinner
7:30-9:30 Evening Session
9:45 – 10:15 Isha Salaat
10:30 Lights out
SATURDAY
4:00 am Qiyam al layl Night Salaat
Istighfar (forgiveness) (highly recommended)
6:10 – 7:30 Fajr Salaat
Khatirah
Dhikr till Shurooq (in picture)

7:30 – 9:30 Rest
9:30 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 1:00 Morning Session
1:00 – 1:45 Duhr Salaat & Dhikr
2:00 – 4:00 Rest
Reflecting, reviewing material studied
4:00 – 4:30 Asr Salaat and Dhikr
4:30 – 5:45 Afternoon Session
6:00 – 6:30 Maghrhib Salaat & Dhikr
6:30 – 7:30 Dinner
7:30 – 9:30 Evening Session
9:45 – 10:15 Isha Salaat
10 : 30 pm Lights out
Sunday,
4:00 am Qiyam al layl Night Salaat
Istighfar (forgiveness) (highly recommended)
SUNDAY
6:10 – 7:30 Fajr Salaat
Khatirah
Dhikr till Shurooq
7.30 – 9:30 Rest
9:30 – 10:00 Breakfast
10:00 – 1:00 Morning Session
1:00 – 1:45 Duhr Salaat & Dhikr
2:00 – 4:00 Rest
Reflecting, reviewing material studied
4:00 – 4:30 Asr Salaat and Dhikr
4:30 – 5:45 Afternoon Session
6:00 – 6:30 Maghrhib Salaat & Dhikr
6:30 – 7:30 Dinner
7:30 – 9:00 Questions and Answers
9:30 – 10:00 Isha Salaat

Back to Dunya, but with Allah
Retreat Rules and Regulations

1. Observe Islamic etiquette and dress at all times. If you like to wear pants, please wear a long shirt to cover up to your knees.
2. Do your best to attend, as many sessions as you can, also be very courteous to the others when coming and leaving.
3. Remember we will be with Allah’s words; show reverence to Him and His words.
4. Registration table to check attendance will be at the Gymnasium
5. Unless necessary, we highly encourage that everyone, if they need to leave, that they leave in the breakout time between the sessions. Remember, what is more important than to be with Him and His words; everything else can wait!
Retreat Staff: Contact persons names were given here
6. Keep your sleeping areas and bathrooms as clean and tidy as possible.(They were!)
7. No eating, drinking, or chewing gum during the session( A new concept for Americans)
8. Please make sure the cell phones are off during the lectures.(cutting of dunya , lots of separation anxiety )                 9. Be respectful to everything and everyone around you. (Women left the place as they found it and sometimes better) 10. If you have any special needs, contact the retreat staff, who will be glad to make any special arrangements. Also contact them for any other concern or emergency.

……….And so began the Surah of Tawheed for 100 women. And me!

Have you been to a spiritual retreat? What was it like? please share! 

THREE QUESTIONS FROM THE BEREAVED & CONDOLENCES

I was asked these questions by a bereaved father. I felt I did not have enough islamic education to rightfully answer these. I asked Sister H (an islamic scholar with much more knowledge than me) to answer these questions, so here they are:

1. What is the best way to visit one’s son’s grave. I mean what are the duas?

When visiting any grave, whether it is family, friends, or Muslims in general, the focus is to remember the reason where we are, and where we will end.

 As for the duas for the deceased himself, the Duaa’ of the Mayaat can be made. It is best to ask for forgiveness for him. In The Muslim Fortress (Hisnul Mubarak) book there are three Duaas for the dead you can choose anyone of them.

 2. Does a dead son know that his parents are praying for him?

 In general yes, the dead person does hear when someone is visiting them and will be very happy with that as long as the visit doesn’t have any act of Disobedience to Allah.

 3. In the family life who is more important, parents or children. I mean who gets the preference?

 This question Allah answered in the Qur”an, in Suraat Al-Nisaa’ “your parents and children, you don’t know who will be more beneficial to you “

 In respect who has more rights on us, parents come first and of course mothers are before Fathers.

 

A condolence for the bereaved parents: (Hisnul Mubarak)

(i)‘Verily to Allaah, belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time..and then he ordered for her to be patient and hope for Allaah’s reward.’  

…and 

(ii)‘May Allaah magnify your reward, make better your solace and forgive your deceased.’