Of Rituals and Words...

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.

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