Are You Lonely At Night………….

If you are lonely at night or any time, know that the creation are more important in your life than your Creator.

The study and practice of “Tazkiyah Nafs” or “Purification of the Heart” is the process of purifying the heart such that it can see the path that leads to Allah and thus happiness and to hold our Lord as our aim in Life.

“Gabriel (peace be upon him) came to the Prophet (Allah bless him and his family, and grant them peace) and said:

“O Muhammad,

Live as long as you will -

you will die,

Love whom you will -

you will one day leave them,

And do what you want, will -

you will be rewarded accordingly,

And know that the honor of a Muslim/Mu’min -

is in the Night Qiyaam,

And that his dignity -

is in his internal feeling of sufficiency from people.”

It has been reported by Tabarani and Hakim, who said it was sound (sahih), and Dhahabi agreed, while Albani graded it fair (hasan).

Hajj……A Reminder of Another Journey

MINA CAMPS: Walking to the jamaraat: Courtesy Firdous

GUEST ARTICLE

Hajj……A Reminder of Another Journey

By Asma bint Shameem

This time the crowds were tremendous…..more, much more than the previous years. One couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the number of people at Hajj this year. And similarly, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the sheer number of lessons that I learnt on this journey – lessons of patience, lessons of compassion, lessons of humility and lessons of thankfulness to Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta‘ala.

Every corner I turned, every where I went, every second I spent during my stay in Mina had the potential to mould me for better or for worse.

When I saw the people on the streets, living under a sheet stretched across two bamboo poles, how could I complain about the size of my camp at Mina?

When I saw little kids rummaging through piles of garbage looking for something to eat, how could I be dissatisfied with all the multiple varieties of fruits and juices and foods that I had at my disposal?

How can I even complain about the same kind of food being served, or how bland it is or how spicy??!!”

And when I saw old, weak people and people in wheelchairs and people limping and crippled standing at the side of the street hoping to find a ride or walking with their legs so swollen that they were the size of their thighs, how could I even begin to complain about the few hours I was stuck on my air-conditioned bus, not to mention the snacks and cold water that I had readily available to me??

I remember the words of one of my teacher, Muhammad al-Shareef. He said once,

“Hajj is not a journey of the body such as one may take to a vacation spot or tourist attraction. It is a journey of the soul and heart.”

And certainly, how true those words are. It is indeed a journey of the heart….a journey to work hard…. to get your sins forgiven….to get to Jannah.

‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas narrates, :

“When Islam entered my heart, I went to the Messenger of Allah and said, ‘Give me your hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.’ The Prophet spread his hand, but I withdrew mine. He said, ‘What is wrong ‘Amr?’ I said, ‘I want to make a condition.’ ‘And what is that?’ he said. I said, ‘That Allah will forgive me.’ Then the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Did you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it, and that Hijrah wipes out what came before it and that Hajj wipes out what came before it!” – Sahih Muslim

When Allaah will forgive all our previous sins……yes, that’s right…..ALL OUR PREVIOUS SINS…….then is a little discomfort or inconvenience not worth it?

In fact, I think a lot of inconvenience is worth it. Actually, anything…..anything in this world is worth it

“(That Day) No loyal friend will ask another loyal friend, though they are in sight of each other. To ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, the sinner will wish that he might even ransom himself by his sons, his companion (wife), his brother, the kinsmen who gave him shelter, and whatsoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him.” (Surah Ma’aarij:10-14)

And how dare we complain??

Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala chose us from among 6 billion of His slaves, and invited us to His Blessed House to undertake this Blessed Journey…..to perform this Blessed Worship that people only dream about once in their lifetimes and what do we do??

We forget this immense , immense blessing of His on us and instead of falling prostate on our faces, with unstoppable tears of repentance and gratitude…. thanking Him for inviting us there and guiding us to Islaam and giving us the opportunity to have our sins forgiven, we forget the big picture and complain???!!!!

Subhaan Allaah!!

But dear brothers and sisters, who is it that provided us with all the blessings that we enjoy in our lives, all the blessings that we use day in and day out? It is no one but Allaah!

And it is the same Allah that tested us on the plains of Arafah, during our stay in Mina, and during our bus journey to Muzdalifah.

We need to remember that indeed the greatest blessing that Allah has favored us with is Islam, and it alone suffices as favor.

“There is no blame upon you for seeking bounty from your Lord (during Hajj). But when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at AlMash’ar AlHaram. And remember Him as He has guided you, for indeed you were before that among those who went astray.” (Surah Baqarah: 198)

So thank Allaah for His favors upon you and when that dust blows, instead of complaining….turn to Allah and hit back with patience and a whisper of gratitude to Allah. And ask Him to forgive you.

“Then let them end their untidiness, fulfill their vows, and perform Tawaf around the ancient House.” (Surah Hajj 22:29)

And remember, Hajj is just a reminder of another journey that you and I will eventually have to take…..a journey every soul is traveling, whether they know it or care to just remain heedless…..A journey to the Hereafter, to Paradise or Hell.

“And take sustenance (with you) for the journey; verily the best sustenance is Taqwa (piety and righteousness).“ (Al Baqarah :197)

THE JOURNEY OF GRIEF……………2:38

Cherished moments for an unknown period

My letter of condolence to a dear friend on the death of his nephew………………

Dear B, Asalaam o alaikum,

I was deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of your seventeen-year-old nephew. Every time a young boy dies I am reminded of what I heard at one of the khutbahs. The Imam said :

with the prolonged consistent and continuous supplications of a parent for her children they get a long and healthy life.

This makes me think that perhaps A’s mother and I did not pray long and consistently for our sons or at least not enough to elongate their existence on this earth.

But then I read in the Quran and also explained in the Hadith (paraphrased):

our time of death, our sustenance and our Qadar is predetermined and brought to us by an angel at 16 weeks gestation while we are in our mothers womb and pasted on our forelock/forehead. Eventually with time it gets covered up with tissue and thus others can no longer see it, but it remains is situ till the time is up.

Thus I go between the guilt of not having prayed enough for the salamati of my children versus my laying down my head with Sabr at my Qadar of losing my son before me.

A’s parents are obviously not at this point but will get there at some time in the future. Losing your child is like placing a hot brand on the heart of the parent, which sears it and never goes away. The response to the searing of the heart is of course completely individual and unforeseen.

You and T were there for us the night of Tariq’s accident. I have a surreal recollection of that time. It is sharp in its picture but sometimes hazy in emotion. It is the compassion and blessing of Allah Subhanawataala for making us incapable of fully reliving the emotions of that day.

A’s parents are blessed to have the two of you as their nearest and dearest. No matter when you decide to go to Pakistan, it will be a balm for their pain.

I cannot think of any advice for A’s parents to alleviate their pain or be able to survive this tragedy.

When I look back in these four years, I realize that I had to try medical and psychological grief support measures and read everything on grief help before I opened the book of Allah’s words and got to the point where I got help that eased my pain. It was a lot of struggle and searching in the words of Allah to get to this point and I still slip many a time.

However looking at how some other people find solace after grief tells me that delving into Allah’s words has not been an approach that they have taken.

In the throes of my grief, I was led by good friends in the direction of finding solace with my Creator. It started with a talk that Dr. S, a psychiatry resident, gave at Tariq’s memorial service at the mosque regarding the “Words of Solace” taken from the Quran. I hung on to them for a while and then I started my own search by googling “Sabr” in the Quran, because I wanted a quick fix. Of course the answer was ” no results”.

The study of the Quran cannot be done by googling a term. I eventually had to start from page one and struggle through each ayah trying to find a meaning that pertained to me and understand it’s potential to take the pain away.

After that at the various spiritual retreats that I went to I met people who were kind, empathic and patient in the path of Allah, and it reinforced my search for the balm for my never ending pain by reflecting on the words of Allah and putting this world and our presence or absence in it in a broader perspective.

I pray that Allah Subhanawataala guides A’s parents to compassionate loving God-fearing people who point them in the direction of Allah Subhanawataala’s therapeutic words that will help ease their pain. I know from experience that nothing else can.

The alternate option is painkillers and brain numbing drugs or other self-destructive acts, which are temporary and ruin not only one’s own life but also the life of all the family.

After the consistent support of family and friends, the rest of the journey they have to make on their own. This grief is one that stays with you till the day you die; there is no escape, no forgetting, and no true untrammeled joy anymore. The best one can hope for is that in serving others, one gives oneself as sadaqa with each act, for ones departed child.

Allah Subhanawataala has given you a kind heart and inshallah you will be able to reach out to the parents and sisters of A and bring them solace, and comfort, in your own special way. T’s serene presence will also be comforting for the family inshallah.

I pray that you may find the strength to be that beacon of light that the bereaved look for when they are blinded with pain. May Allah strengthen your emaan and grant you the ability and stamina to comfort your own brother in one of the most painful times of his life.

My prayers are for you, your family, and for A and his family. May Allah Subhanawataala give you all sabr- e- jameel.

Paul, and Shireen join me in sending their sincere heartfelt condolences; kindly convey these to your brother and his family.

With Salaam and duas,

A

Quran 2:38

………………….whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

WHAT SHOULD A MUSLIM LEADER DO? 15:85-88

وَمَا خَلَقنَا ٱلسَّمَـوتِ وَٱلأَرضَ وَمَا بَينَہُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلحَقِّ‌ وَإِنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَأَتِيَةٌ فَٱصفَحِ ٱلصَّفحَ ٱلجَمِيلَ (٨٥) إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ ٱلخَلَّـقُ ٱلعَلِيمُ (٨٦) وَلَقَد ءَاتَينَـكَ سَبعًا مِّنَ ٱلمَثَانِى وَٱلقُرءَانَ ٱلعَظِيمَ (٨٧) لَا تَمُدَّنَّ عَينَيكَ إِلَى مَا مَتَّعنَا بِهِ أَزوَجًا مِّنهُم وَلَا تَحۡزَن عَلَيہِم وَٱخفِض جَنَاحَكَ لِلمُؤمِنِينَ (٨٨)

We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and lo! the Hour is surely coming. So forgive, (O Muhammad), with a gracious forgiveness. (85) Lo! Thy Lord! He is the All-Wise Creator. (86) We have given thee seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the great Qur’an. (87) Strain not thine eyes toward that which We cause some wedded pairs among them to enjoy, and be not grieved on their account, and lower thy wing (in tenderness) for the believers. (88)

TAFSEER TRANSLATED FROM DR. FARHAT HASHMI

THE GIFT

Allah Subhanawataala says that do not show interest in what I have given to people in pairs or otherwise because what I have given you is far more valuable and everlasting in the seven oft repeated verses (the surah Fatiha) and the Quran. There is nothing compared to the Quran. Look away from those things that attract you more than the Quran, (check yourself what attracts you more than the Quran) these things have no value compared to the word of Allah.

When Allah gives the gift of the Quran to someone then that person should avert his eyes from the worldly things and thank Allah Subhanawataala for His gift.

ADVICE TO RASOOLALLAH (PBUH) AND PEOPLE OF DAWAH

Do not feel sad at the response of these people who when called to the truth make fun of it. What happens when someone calls others to Allah’s word, usually people make fun of them. Unfortunately in Pakistan and India the people who call people to Islam are usually from the uneducated class. It is they who have held on to the Quran while the “educated class” has distanced itself from the Quran in the process of learning secular science and arts. The educated class has failed to neither recognize nor correlate what they study in secular science to what is in the Quran, primarily because those who become educated in secular Universities do not study the Quran.

Thus when the uneducated class calls people to the Quran, their repertoire is limited in what they offer in the understanding of the Quran. In addition due to their lower economic and social status the educated class does not respect them.

It is usually the poor and the disadvantaged in the societies of South East Asia who have read the Quran.

These are people who are otherwise ignorant and uneducated and thus are unable to convey the essence of Allah’s message due to the limitation of their education and knowledge……when the educated people hear the Quran as explained by these simple folks, they in their own ignorance of the Quran presume that what they are hearing is all of the Quran, being unable to understand the depths of it, reject it and make fun of it.

They listen to only the explanation given by the uneducated class regarding the Quran and are unable to recognize the limitations of the people giving the message and are thus fooled into thinking that there is something wrong with the Quran.

They fail to understand the fact that each person can only explain the word of God from the base of education and intellect endowed to him or her.

EDUCATION: THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING THE DEPTHS OF THE QURAN

The more knowledgeable the person, the wider the breadth of education, the more he or she will understand the nuances of the Quran. However it is unfortunate that people who are advanced in their education do not take the time or interest to review reflect and understand the Quran.

WHO TO TURN ONE’S ATTENTION TO?

Allah Subhanawataala advises Prophet Muhammad pbuh that when people make fun of you about the Quran, do not feel sad, because they are ignorant of the signifiicance of what you are conveying to them.

In Surah Fatir 035.008, Allah Subhanawataala says:

Is he, then, to whom the evil of his conduct is made alluring, so that he looks upon it as good, (equal to one who is rightly guided)? For Allah leaves to stray whom He wills, and guides whom He wills. So let not thy soul go out in (vainly) sighing after them: for Allah knows well all that they do!

Allah Subhanawataala advises Prophet Muhammad where to turn his attention. He says turn your attention with kindness and affection towards the Momins. Give them the attention and be gentle with them. Ignore the arrogant people.

GUIDELINES FOR A MUSLIM LEADER FOR HIS OWN PEOPLE

Allah Subhanawataala’s command to RasoolAllah pbuh and guidelines for all Muslim leaders:

Forgive them, even though they have made mistakes, Ask forgiveness for them and keep them in the circle of Shoora (consultation) this keeps them involved in the Deen.

Characteristics of a Muslim leader with his followers should reflect the following:

1. Gentle hearted,
2. Khush Ikhlaaq (Well mannered)
3. Forgive mistakes
4. Pray to Allah for istighfaar of their mistakes,

End Tafseer

SUMMARY
these ayahs summarize some gems to remember:

The Quran especially the Surah Fatiha is a gift

If one does not know the Quran, other superficial things may seem attractive.

Even if other things may seem attractive turn away from them

Turn to the Momins with affection and gentleness

Muslim leaders should:

In the face of mistakes made by their followers should still treat them with gentle politeness and forgive their mistakes and also ask Allah to forgive their mistakes (true forgiveness is when you pray for the forgiveness for the person who has made a mistake that hurt you).

Allah knows best!

WHAT IS A SIN?

Bullseye:courtesy:http://www.flickr.com/photos/adeleturner/3385427134/

A DEFINATION OF SIN:

Excerpted from a talk given by Shaikh Hamza Yusuf

The literal meaning of sin is “missing the mark” Thus when one is trying to be righteous (which is the bull’s-eye) but one misses the bull’s-eye, that is sin.

Allah’s Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Beware of sins which are treated as being minor, just like a people who encamp in the centre of a valley, so someone brings a stick of firewood and someone else brings a stick until they are, therefore, able to bake their bread. (I.e. many small sticks collected became important or significant enough that a fire could be lit) Likewise, sins which are treated as being minor, and for which the person is taken to account, will destroy him.” [Ahmad]

It is just as the noble companion Abdullah ibn Masood (radi Allahu anhu) said: “The believer sees his sins as if he were sitting beneath a mountain which he feared was about to fall upon him, whereas the wicked sees his sins like a man who finds a fly settle upon his nose, so he does this (the narrator brushed it away from his nose).”

The Muslim should realize the greatness of his Lord, the One free and far from all imperfections, and His tremendous Power and Might, and he should not think of the sin as being great or small! Rather he should think of it with regard to the One whom he is disobeying.

The committing of sin removes eemaan and fear of Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) from the heart. Each sin leaves a black dot upon the heart, killing it a little bit. When the heart is covered in black, a seal is then put on it and the door of guidance is shut on it. The sins, which are ignored, neither repented for nor erased by the doing of good deeds, cause their doer’s destruction.

End excerpt

CLOUDS…..THE HARBINGER OF MERCY OR AZAAB? 46:24

Clouds can bring rain, or devastation. Here is a Hadith illustrating the responses to changes in nature if one has knowledge of the Quran, and awareness that His (Subhanawtaala) bounties (rain) can be a blessing or a disaster (The winds that came with clouds and destroyed the disobedient nation):

HADITH

Sahih Al Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 54, Number 428:

Narrated Ata:

‘Aisha said If the Prophet saw a cloud In the sky, he would walk to and fro in agitation, go out and come in, and the color of his face would change, and if it rained, he would feel relaxed.” So ‘Aisha knew that state of his.

So the Prophet (pbuh) said, I don’t know (am afraid), it may be similar to what happened to some people referred to in the Holy Quran in the following Verse:

-- “Then when they saw it as a dense cloud coming towards their valleys, they said, ‘This is a cloud bringing us rain!’ Nay, but, it is that (torment) which you were asking to be hastened a wind wherein is severe torment.” (46.24)

DISEASES OF THE HEART & BODY………….

Diseases of the heart and body, are both serious, here the speaker addresses the diseases of the body:

THE RELATIONSHIP OF DUA AND TAQDEER: 13:38-40

courtesy: www.flickr.com/dua

Surah Ra’ad 13:            38

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً  وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ  لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ

We did send apostles before thee, and appointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).

In french:

Et Nous avons certes envoyé avant toi des messagers, et leur avons donné des épouses et des descendants. Et il n’appartient pas à un Messager d’apporter un miracle, si ce n’est qu’avec la permission d’Allah. Chaque échéance a son terme prescrit.

39

يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ  وَعِندَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ

Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book.

In French:

Allah efface ou confirme ce qu’Il veut en l’Ecriture primordiale est auprès de Lui.

40

وَإِن مَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلَاغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ

Whether We shall show thee (within thy life-time) part of what we promised them or take to ourselves thy soul (before it is all accomplished),- thy duty is to make (the Message) reach them: it is our part to call them to account.

In French:

Que Nous te fassions voir une partie de ce dont Nous les menaçons, ou que Nous te fassions mourir (avant cela), ton devoir est seulement la communication du message, et le règlement de compte sera à Nous.

BACKGROUND: These ayahs have three main messages: Taqdeer, Dua, and the deliverance of the  Message of Tawheed with the understanding that all accountability is by Allah.

TAFSEER BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI

Allah Subhanawataala has the main book or the Mother of all books; The Luh Mahfooz He Subhanawataaala can change it or confirm it. E.g. He changed some of the rules for Rasoolallah’s Ummah compared to past rules brought by His messengers.

He can increase or decrease changes in His book (Luh Mahfooz) as He deems fit.

Which book is mentioned here? (ayah 39) Is this the Na’ama Aamaal or the Taqdeer? Because He has the mother of all Books. This give us the span of Allah’s power. He has rules for all times and All Ummahs.

Hadith:

Taqdeer is changed with dua.

In another hadith:

We know that the power is Dua is immense, the Dua may be rising and a calamity may be descending, thus if the dua is strong, then when it meets the rising Dua, there is a tussle for power of implementation, thus which ever is stronger, prevails. If  the Dua is strong, the calamity is turned around and if the Dua is weak or in adequately made then calamity prevails.

Allah Subhanawataala has the original book and he can make whatever changes he wants to. (Dua is asking Allah Subhanawataala to change one’s taqdeer and dua does affect taqdeer) .

Hadith:

Sila Rahmi increases life

Hadith:

Sins decrease our Rizq, we may be about to get something but we do disobedience and He turns His face away.

Everything is with Allah we need to ask Him by making Dua to change our Taqdeer.

Sadaqa is rad-e Bala, it pushes calamities away.

Thus Allah Subhanawataala’s message to Prophet Muhammad is:

If We (Allah Subhanawataala) show you (Prophet Muhammad pbuh) that azaab (Punishment) which we have promised the disbelievers inyour lifetime or do it after you die, in both case your (Prophet Muhammad pbuh) responsibility is to give the message and Ours (Allah Subhanawataala) is to check accountability.

ADVICE FOR A DAEE: DO NOT WAIT FOR TOMORROW!

Thus a Daee must continue her work, no matter what the results and whether the environment is advantageous or not, do not wait for times to become advantageous, just continue to give the message and leave the results to Allah Subhanawataala.

Allah Subhanawataala reiterates this message in Surah Ghashiya (88)

21

فَذَكِّرْ إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُذَكِّرٌ

Therefore do thou give admonition, for thou art one to admonish.

22

لَّسْتَ عَلَيْهِم بِمُصَيْطِرٍ

Thou art not one to manage (men’s) affairs.

23

إِلَّا مَن تَوَلَّىٰ وَكَفَرَ

But if any turn away and reject Allah,-

24

فَيُعَذِّبُهُ اللَّهُ الْعَذَابَ الْأَكْبَرَ

Allah will punish him with a mighty Punishment.

End tafseer

My humble take on this:

Our Taqdeer is written in His book (Luh Mahfooz) but if he so wishes he can change it

How and why would Allah Subhanawataala change our taqdeer? Only if we make sincere Dua, which reflects the etiquette, respect and full protocol and adaab of Dua.

Calamities in this life can be warded off with Dua and Sadaqa

The disobedience of Allah causes Him to turn away from us. This may be reflected in the decrease in our Rizq in this dunya.

Allah’s Azaab (Punishment) is promised to those who deny the existence and Unity of God Almighty and He will and can show it at anytime.

The instructions to the Messenger (pbuh) and all those who come after him (Pbuh) is to give the Message of Allah to ……….go ahead and GIVE the message without waiting or hesitating even if they do not see an immediate effect, or if times are difficult or unfriendly.

Allah Subhanawataala Himself will do the accountability of the actions of each one of us after we received His message.

Supplication: Please keep me in your duas!!!

IN THE FIRE DUE TO OBSTINANCY OR IGNORANCE?…….……….Surah Ra’ad 13:43

Obstinate denial leaves us alone without Allah: courtesy flickr.com

وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَستَ مُرسَلاً قُل فَى بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدَا بَينِى وَبَينَم وَمَن عِندَهُ  عِلمُ ٱلكِتَـبِ (٤٣

The Unbelievers say: “No messengers art thou.” Say: “Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah, and such as have knowledge of the Book.” (43)

TAFSEER BY DR. FARHAT HASHMI 13:43

Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is commanded by Allah to say to those who deny that he is Allah; s Messenger that “ Allah’s witness is enough for me and he who has the ilm (knowledge) of the book”

Who has the ilm (knowledge) of the book? What is the book that is being referred here?

Thus if the Book being Luh- e- Mahfooz then it is Allah who has the knowledge and is being referred here. If the book is Torah and Injeel then the reference is to the Ulema of these Books and if the book is the Quran then the reference is to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Thus the people in the above categories are witness to Prophet Muhammad’s Prophet hood.

In Surah Al Imran ayah 18 Allah Subhanawataala says:

There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah His angels and those endued with knowledge, standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the Wise. (18) The Religion before Allah is Islam (submission to His will): nor did the people of the Book dissent there from except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. But if any deny the Signs of Allah, Allah is swift in calling to account. (19)

The people of knowledge know who is Allah’s Messengers. No one who has knowledge of the book would deny that Prophet Muhammad pbuh is the Messenger of God.

People can deny the Messenger only on the basis of ignorance or their obstinate ego.

MY TAKE:

Obstinacy is the brother of arrogance. It is that characteristic which prevents us from softening our heart towards something that we know from the inner precincts of our heart to be true. but one  denies it because of arrogance ( A disease of the heart)  and the whispered encouragement of the Shaytaan to dig our heels in and oppose it.

Thus we sometimes end up denying the truth while knowing it with our inner being to be the truth.  (May Allah Subhanawataala protect us from this trait).

DEATH AT CLOSE QUARTERS……………………..

island in the day, ocean in the night:The Quran: 055.010: It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures: 055.013 : Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

Have you ever seen death at close quarters and know that in some action done in the past you may have contributed to it?

And so it is………..

I am in khalwah on the beach; it is the remotest point of the island, where pieces of land submerge into the sea with the change of tides. Thus you may have left your shoes and bike at a safe place on the beach and walked till the sands ended. Hours later as you head back you see that you are separated from where you left your shoes and bike by a flowing river of water, waist deep. As you walk through the swirling water rushing with a force of determination to meet its destination in the salt-water lagoon, you have a new respect for the power of Allah who created this force, and are humbled by the thought that we human beings were sent as stewards on this earth (Ashraf ul Makhlooqaat)

Th force of the water separating the small islands

I am walking with my eyes on Allah’s creation in the sand where the water meets the shore. It is amazing to see what has been left behind by the tides. The ocean with its huge arm reclaims its possessions, giving them a just burial, in its depths, and also sometimes spits out on the beach the reminders of the cruelty of man to animals through their thoughtless and sometimes senseless and selfish actions.

On the sand as I walk I see the shells, the crabs, both live and dead, the sandpipers who watch me with the corner of the eye and keep on eating the small animals hiding in the sand in their shells. As the warm water touches my feet I am reminded that soon this part of the land will be reclaimed by the ocean.

Further on there is a white blur of birds patiently waiting for what I do not know. The words of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) come  unbidden to me and I paraphrase:

“Don’t the birds go out hungry in the morning and come back with their stomach full and satiated and know that their Lord will provide for them?”

It is Asar time and the birds are waiting to start dinner. There is no evidence of gluttony and of breaking rank to start eating before it is dinnertime for all. My approach is a signal; they all rise to the sky gracefully in a large C, well distanced from each other, organized in flight.

After I pass they alight back on the sand in a graceful swoop and again start their vigil for when the fishing is to begin for the Maghrib meal before night falls. I sneak a peak and find them grooming themselves…………wudu at the hour before Maghrib?

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YUSUFALI: How many are the creatures that carry not their own sustenance? It is Allah who feeds (both) them and you: for He hears and knows (all things).

The birds take off in an organized graceful flight

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YUSUFALI: And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the living creatures that He has scattered through them: and He has power to gather them together when He wills.

As I look back down again at the sands I see a piece of seaweed tangled with something glistening in the sun, and I recognize a piece of clear plastic bag, As I attempt to disengage it from the seaweed, I realize that its mouth has been tightened shut with almost a self made knot caused by twisting on itself.

In it lies a beautiful shell, the animal in it half extruding as if to find a breath of the fresh sea air, perhaps perplexed why it can still feel the sun but not the air. I touch it from the outside of the clear plastic bag, the kind that we often use for sandwiches or in which the newspaper is delivered, or an expensive scarf is usually placed in this type of a clear plastic to retain the newness of the gift. I realize that something is very wrong, and a shot of guilt pierces my heart.

I touch the plastic, and without a doubt I realize that the sea animal inside is dead! Dead as dead can be! Dead not as in by providing food for someone higher on the food chain, dead not because of age or injury, but dead in the prime of life, glowing in its beauty, its shell pink and healthy. Why? I think. My brain trying to refute the evidence before me. only because of the vanity and style of life of us women, men and children who inhabit this earth and use and toss things with a sense of Ghafala, unaware of the effect of our “innocent” acts on others.

Dead! unbeknownst to its murderers, who innocently are yet buying more plastic for their food, their clothes, their travel and then tossing it the trash can, thinking that this non biodegradable product that survives longer than a hundred years, will somehow disappear without causing harm.

A blue plastic bag spat out by the ocean onto the shore

Plastic, the essence of a fast life on the run (to earn more money). An essential part of an affluent society obsessed with germs, leaving in its wake a trail of blood and silent tears.

In its wake is the blood of many sea creatures, some fishes who swallow the bright pieces of plastic and asphyxiate, some turtles who choke, and some get caught in it. As they continue to die silently removing one more living being that was in tasbeeh of Allah, the hands of men and women who were sent on earth as stewards of all living things are being stained with blood.  The blood on the hands of humans is not only of their own kind, but of the creation of God that unlike us is continuously in tasbeeh and remembrance of God twenty four seven.

I stare at my hands and I do not see any blood, but I see countless plastic bags that I have tossed into the trash.  I look out at the ocean, a silent witness and I know that like Lady Macbeth,  all the water of the ocean cannot wash the blood from the hands of men, women and children who commit murder everyday without being aware of it (Ghafala).

How do you and I atone for it? Death by asphyxiation, by our own hands, slowly squeezing the life from this sea animal, who even in its last moments remains in the remembrance of God.

Death by Asphyxiation in a plastic bag

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YUSUFALI: Do they seek for other than the Religion of Allah?-while all creatures in the heavens and on earth have, willing or unwilling, bowed to His Will (Accepted Islam), and to Him shall they all be brought back.