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)



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