Destination: Elite-Clan.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

After a recent gathering I went to, I was trying to get my priorities straight; to get a clear head about where and with what kind of people do I want to end up. You know, like that one neighbourhood we dream about living in one day? or having "so & so" as our neighbours, depending upon our interests. I ended up with a list of some very amazing humans, ones whose lives are worth sharing, so I decided to write a post about some of them.
Here goes:

You know that beautiful, classy, young girl? Scratch ''young'', she is a teenager! The one so lively and quirky. She loves playing around and pulling pleasant tricks. She might get a little carried away at times too, but when it comes to questions of knowledge; of issues of utmost importance, she is the one everyone will turn to. The most authoritative ones will come knocking at her door looking for answers. Her knowledge isn't limited to random Q&A sessions, she is a very well known scholar and a teacher. The most knowledgeable men of the era have been her students at one point or another. A lively young girl with so much wit. Sounds too good to be true, right? But she is as real as real can get.

Then comes the prestigious business woman. The richest lady in town. The one who has marvelously maintained her dignity while climbing the ladder of success in the business world. Yet, when you look at her family life, you will be dumbfounded by her homeliness. She is the perfect housewife; cooking for husband, being his best friend and the shoulder he leans on in tough times. The one whose support and love her husband can not forget years after her death. She is that Super lady with a highly successful business, a husband thoroughly pleased with her, no dirt on her robes and six children of her own. That's a tough call in a society where women are hardly given any importance.

Next comes that girl who has seen much sorrow in her life. She lived through poverty, and lost her mother to it at a very young age. Each one of her siblings passed away during her life. She saw her father's physical and mental abuse, and she stood by him till his last breath. Yet, she never lost hope. She never roamed the streets like a mad woman, in fact, she was the most dignified girl of the town. The one proposed by the most eligible bachelors in town, despite never having seen her face. She chose to marry a brave warrior, one with very little wealth to live by. But that didn't keep them from raising children who were remembered for generations as the noblest of men. By her forbearance, patience and piety, she earned the title of The Queen of all Women at a very early age. She is an example for every young girl, to never give up. She has seen every trouble a girl can imagine, and she came out stronger than ever. Not an example out of fiction novels, but one very real.

Among the men, let us begin with the brave warrior, the husband of this very girl. The boy who was so headstrong at the age of 10 years, that elders of his society mocked him for his big words. They laughed at him when he stood up for a much needed change. He wasn't just a man of words; several years late, he proved himself by bringing the change he had stood for at the age of ten. When he walked back in, before the very people who had mocked him, his awe silenced them and they couldn't believe the honour and prestige this man had earned through the years. He was the bravest warrior of his time, unmatched at the battle field. Yet, when he was off the battlefield he craved knowledge. He ardently sought companionship of the knowledgeable and acquired from them all that they could offer. He was not only nicknamed for his skills as a brave warrior, he was also known by the entire community for his knowledge. A man from a noble family, with little wealth, but one who chose to seek true nobility through knowledge.

In their town was a handsome young boy; the fashionista of the town, pampered by the wealth of his very rich mother. One whose perfumes were so exotic, when he passed from a street, several moments later could one smell the fragrance and know he had been there. He always wore branded(exported) clothes. Head to toe, dressed in class. His manners and morals were unmatched. His speech and manners were as beautiful as everything else about him. One fine day, he and his mother had a disagreement. There was a matter, concerning which she wanted him to support the false views. His morals could not allow him to side against the truth. He stood with the truth and tried to convince his mother to see it too, but she refused. She not only disowned him, but chained him in her house. He bore it all and refused to submit to a lie. He ran away and lived a life of poverty. His friends would look at him with tears in their eyes at his new state, but he never regretted leaving behind his luxuries for the sake of truth. When he died, he wore a cloth so small it couldn't cover his entire body. Such were the sacrifices this former ''star of the town'' made to stand up for what he believed in.

There was a man in the town, very much like the ''cat ladies'' of today. He loved cats so much so that he came to be known as The Cat Man. He could hardly ever be seen without a kitty or two sitting in the sleeve of his shirt; yes, he made sure his shirts were stitched such that a cat could sit in the sleeve. He was, evidently, soft hearted. When a friend punched him in the chest, he went crying to the authorities about it. This was a grown man in a society where little boys wrestled as a sport. He didn't fake a personality. He accepted his soft heartedness wholly.


Can you believe all these amazing people existed at the same time(almost), in the same place?Let me tell you their names, which you might have guessed already:
  1. Ayesha Sideeqa R.A
  2. Khadija R.A
  3. Fatima tu Zahra R.A
  4. Ali ibn Abi Talib R.A
  5. Mus'ab ibn Umair R.A
  6. Abu Huraira R.A
At the end of the day, I figured, these are the actual elite and knowledgeable people I want to hang out with. Although, I cant imagine myself uttering a single word in the company of amma Khadija, I would love to sit near her and benefit from her knowledge. To learn from them, to be like them; as true, as real, as dignified, as knowledgeable, and as righteous as them. That's the dream. That's the Struggle. That's #DestinationJannah.



NOTE: 
Fatima R.A: "Queen of all Women" refers to the Hadith Are you not pleased/satisfied with that you are the chief (saiyidah) of women of momineen OR chief of women of this ummah.” Muslim V:2 P.g:290
Abu Huraira: The Cat man actually refers to his name "Father of cats"
Ali R.A: nicknamed for his warrior skills refers to "Asad Ullah" (Lion of Allah).

Pearls of Heaven.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Bismillah


A while back I went to visit a jewelry shop with some relatives. I have never really been one for gold and jewels but this place was, to say the least, BEAUTIFUL! As we gaped and marveled at the intricate designs and huge diamonds set around stones of all colours I messaged a friend "Not a jewelry person but I'm in love with this place". Well, soon the pretty dream was over when we asked for the prices and realized we couldn't afford half the stuff lying there.

Next week, I was sitting in our little tafseer session, which a senior from our faculty conducts in our class room twice a week. She was talking about the story of Adam and Eve, of Paradise, our actual home..our Jannah. she was saying..
"Paradise, where the rocks and pebbles on the ground are pearls and jewels, that's our home"
And I couldn't help but smile to myself, thinking of our trip the past week. The jewels and pearls we chase after all our lives, the diamonds girls display on their fingers so happily like a trophy, all of it is just the dust of Paradise. It comes in a verse of the Quran:
(They will be) on Thrones encrusted (with gold and precious stones),                (56:15) 
Imangine! When the seat you sit on is woven with gold and precious stones, what of the garments and jewelry?
We know from a Hadith:

 Abu Hurairah said that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
"There is not a tree in Paradise, except that its trunk is made of gold." [Sahih al-Jami]


 And yet another: 
 Anas ibn Malik said that Allah's Apostle (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said,
"I entered Paradise and found myself by a river, by its edges were tents of pearls. Then I tapped with my hands where the water was running, and there was then a beautiful smell of Musk. I asked, 'What is this O Gabriel?' He said, 'This is Kawthar (river in Paradise) which Allah has given to you.'" [Sahih al-Jami] 


 The narrations about the description of Paradise are innumerable. A place where the finest pearls line water banks, the dust is Rubies and Sapphires and houses are made of silver and gold. Yet,  how silly we are..how very silly that we choose to chase after that one diamond, that house bigger than ours and a neighborhood more exclusive and elite than the current. SubhanAllah. We prefer giving up an eternity of bliss and novelty unmatched by any of this world, just to get that which is before our eyes.  We want perfection in this life and perfection in the next, Whereas Allah Says:
Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah ?" Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near. (2:214)
It's a struggle either way, whether for the finite pleasure of this world or infinite pleasure of the Hereafter. Wouldn't it be only wise and sensible if we worked for the everlasting? the unmatched? the one where the beauty of the new bracelet, blinging with  diamonds, isn't overshadowed by the money that just left your wallet. Islam doesn't ask us to let go of the dunia, it asks us to balance it. To compromise for the smaller stones rather than distressing our families. To be content with what we have and strive for the best of the Hereafter, not the best and branded of this world.

Ah! Easier said than done, no? May Allah give us the Taqwa that enables the doing be as easy..not just easy but pleasurable. To let go of the vain pleasures of this world for the Pleasure of Allah. Ameen :)

"Truly! The Muttaqun (pious and righteous persons ) will be amidst Gardens and water-springs (Paradise)." (15:45)



Converse. Ask. Engage.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Bismillah
Aqulo qauli haza wastaghfirullah, lee walakum


"And how can you have patience about a thing which you know not?" ~18:68 -The Nobel Quran.

Don't let doubts eat away at your faith and relations.
Converse. Ask. Engage.
Don't try to be super humans. Remember this statement was directed to Musa A.S. If a prophet couldn't be at rest, not knowing the truth behind the matter, how can we expect our already corrupted minds to be at ease knowing only 'some' of the matter. We have all experienced how Satan and our desires love to come up and help us build the rest of it in our minds. If you know the matter really means something to you and could be affecting you, go on and try talking to the people concerned in all honesty and sincerity.

BUT if it doesn't really concern you, yet you find yourself being impatient over it, try taking the high road to beautifying your eeman.
 "Part of the excellence of a man's Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him." -Hadith (Al-Muwatta)


Of Rituals and Words...

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Bismillah

We recently started studying the fiqh of taharah (law of cleanliness). As every Muslim would be, or should be, aware that cleanliness is given a lot of importance in Islam. So much so that our Beloved Rasulullah SallAllahu Alaihi Wassallam said:
Purity (Cleanliness) is half of faith.. (Sahih al-Muslim)

Every possible aspect of the topic is covered by Quranic verses and authentic narrations of Ahadith. There are even masnoon supplications for entering and leaving the toilet. Now, many of us might have memorized these as kids and might even be reciting them but mostly without giving it much thought.
The supplication for leaving the toilet is "ghufranak'' meaning "Your Forgiveness (O Allah)". When we came across this, our teacher said:
"now what did you do SO bad in the bathroom that you are asking forgiveness for it?"

And for a moment, I was really like 'oh yea...'
Then she explained;
When you relieve yourself and you purify your physical self, you feel good. A Momin would always want his inner self i.e his soul, his heart to be pure too. So when he is physically pure, he prays to Allah to cleanse him of his sins too. Beautiful, isn't it?
Also, as so much stress is laid upon cleanliness in Islam, one must try their best to clean any impurity or filth upon them when they go to the toilet but even after trying our utmost, sometimes we might not be aware but some impurity might still remain on our body or clothes. So, one asks Allah's forgiveness for such shortcomings.

Ghufranak.One word, so much to it. Yet we go on fasting months, offering prayers, uttering azkaar not giving any thought to the wisdom behind these rituals. Islam is a Way of Life. It's not just empty rituals and words. Every Sunnah has wisdom behind it; Rasulullah SallAllahu Alaihi Wassallam didn't just sleep on his right side because he felt like it, he didn't prefer drinking water in three sips because that was convenient for him. Everything he did was inspired by the One Whose Knowledge is infinite. Our religion is a beautiful ocean of knowledge, one that you can never claim to have fully explored but every stone of it upturns to reveal the most amazing and astonishing pearls of wisdom.
I must warn you though; once you dive in, it's beauty will not let you climb out.

May Allah allow us to learn and MOST IMPORTANTLY act upon His Deen. Ameen :)



High on Happiness.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

I'm high on happiness right now, Alhamdolillah.
So happy.
You know that feeling when you go to a party and cant relate with anyone or any topic there?
We have all been there at least once, whether it's the Welcome Party at a new school or meet-up of your mom's friends at your place.
But then, there are parties and gatherings with your friends, your own friends that you somehow fail to relate to.
And then there are gatherings with strangers and yet you can connect with each one of them.

I went to one such gathering this week. I don't usually go anywhere without any acquaintance but I REALLY wanted to attend this conference last week, which none of my friends were going for. So, I thought, lets brave up for once and go for it. Anyway, all we had to do was sit there quietly and listen to the speakers' talks.

Or that's what I had thought.

It was Amazing. We were the family Islam tells us to be. We weren't just relating, we were connected. The chorus of salam, doubling in our chairs while laughing, silently wiping away tears and (my favourite) Calling out Takbeer together. Allaho Akbar!
The energy was amazing and to know all this was only and only for the sake of Allah's Religion and for the love of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Nothing connects you better than that. Nothing can truly connect souls other than that.

Sitting with a friend today, after another such inspiring conference, while everyone began to leave with smiles on their faces and hopefully hearts charged with eeman, I almost swooned with pleasure. All this youth, out to seek the truth. To seek that which leads us to the pleasure of Allah. All these people like me and you, sharing the same gaols. All these blessed hearts, chosen by Allah to come here together for His Sake. And how blessed is one to be in such a company?

To have learned scholars and true slaves of God amidst you. To be addressed by them as a sister. If that made me so happy, I wonder how would be the happiness of those whom the Propeht Muhammad (PBUH) addresses as his Ummatis! SubhanAllah.
We have a long way to get there but it doesn't seem so difficult when you know you have so many companions with you on this journey.


                           So blessed is Allah , the best of creators.
                                                                                                              - Al-Quran 23:14
 
 
 

LESSON # 42.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Alhamdolillah, we are four months into our Taleem ul Quran Course now and it couldn't have passed any quicker. Three years, that seemed so long when I was registering for the course, have started seeming so short now. Especially since we completed Surah Al-Baqarah last week. The longest surah of the Quran, we had went over it's tafseer already and I coudn't hep but feel at loss for all the classes I had missed, all it's ehkamaat that I had faied to implement and all that I might have forgotten already.

So there I was, sitting and thinking about how I could improve on these mistakes, when we did our, yet another, beautiful tafseer lesson, today. I thought how lucky I was to be still sitting here and being blessed with the oppertunity to listen to Allah's beautiful Words again. Ahamdolillah. I realized how dreadful it would be to lose this, as my ustaza says "Use it or lose it!" and there are far better people than me out there, who could get so much more out of these than me.

So, here are some of the lessons we derived from the 9 verses(23-32 A'al-Imran) Today.

"...those who were given a portion of the Scripture...then a party of them  turns away.." (3:23)
  • It is not necessary that one who has knowledge will be acting upon it too.
Even though these people of The Book had knowledge from their books, that what they were being called towards was the truth, they turned away from it. It is important to evaluate ourselves, are we acting upon the little knowledge, that we do have, of the deen? Are we at least trying to act upon it? or we turn away like they did?

.."O Allah , Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will." ...(3:26)

  • The real owner of all power and status is Allah. To seek it from any means other than Him is foolishness. 
We slack in our religious duties because we are too busy chasing after worldly gains. We forget that Allah is the One Who Owns the world, too. How silly are we, displeasing Him to seek that which belongs to Him?

..You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will...(3:26)
Being hesitant in acting 'religious' because that would humble us in the eyes of people. Hanging with the 'cool crowd' because that would make us cool. We have it al wrong. He is the source of all Honour and Glory. It is only Allah that we should seek for these things and His is the only path that can actually lead us to them.

Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah , then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you..." (3:31)
We claim to love every other meal that we eat and new dress that we buy but is it truy love? Love, according to scholars, is the emotion that brings you so close to the object of love, that everything except it, the beloved, perishes. All that matters is the pleasure of the beloved. Allah Says that His pleasure can be sought by following the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. A measure of our love, our true love, for Allah is how much are we trying to follow the  Sunnah of The Holy Prophet.
ALSO, Allah Says that He will Love us if we do that. So if we want to know how much Allah Loves us, we can find out by checking how much of the sunnah do we follow.
One wonders why not just follow Allah's Commands? Because among all of Allah's creation Prophet Muhammad  (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was blessed with the Title of Habeeb Ullah (The Beloved of Allah). So to be His beloveds we must be like the one who was THE Beloved.
A plus point for all of us who cant help but wish for instant worldly benefits too: 

The Prophet said, "If Allah loves a person.... then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth."

Following every command of Allah is such a Win win for both this world and the hereafter. May Allah make us all realize that and may we follow more and more of His commands to attain His Love. Ameen. :)