Monday, November 28, 2011

A Short Story - 'Don’t Judge Too Quickly'



There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree’s life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall. Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest. Don’t judge life by one difficult season. Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time or later.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Do We Really Love Prophet Muhammad (May Peace & Blessings be upon him)?


My Muslim brothers we should take that path upon which Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) went down. After Allah (s.w.t), The most favors done for us were by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (May Peace & Blessing be upon him). It is in his nature to be like this. Gather all the cries of the Ummah (people) and still the cries of our Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) will exceed them. Gather all their moments of worry and concern and still the worry and concern of our Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) will exceed them. No other Prophet’s chest ever filled with worry and concern like the way Prophet Muhammad’s (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) chest overflowed with worry and concern. He (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) trembled and shivered with worry and concern. Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) cried so much that the Angel Gabriel (A.S) would have to descend and Allah (s.w.t) would say: “O My Messenger Do Not Cry Much, Do Not Cry too Much”

[Narration from Sahih Al-Muslim]
During the nights in Medina only if we could go to the past and see those nights how much Our Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) used to cry and worry. The way He (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) tied rocks around his stomach to reduce hunger. If only we could see this, The one who was offered high quality clothing but he preferred to wear patched up clothing the one who was offered food of Jannah (heavens), but he (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) still preferred to go on three days without a bite of food. We can’t even stand up due to the effects of Fasting (Ramadan). We can’t even stand for long while fasting yet we don’t realize what our beloved Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) went through when he (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) didn’t eat for three odd days. The one who was asked by Allah (s.w.t) to ‘Just say Yes! Just say Yes! And I will Lay out a Tablecloth full of food from Jannah (heavens) You just say Yes at least once! And I will make the mountain of Uhud into gold for you! Just point me out once And I will make the Arabian mountains into gold, silver, emeralds and sapphire and present them to you, sacrifice them to you, And still in the afterlife it will not reduce anything from you, it will not reduce anything from you” and after this Our Beloved Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) said: ‘No No! No No! No No! I accept this hunger but when will my Ummat (people) be well off? I accept living in a tent but when will my ummah be living in palaces? I accept travelling on a donkey but when will my ummah travel luxuriously? I accept eating plain food but when will my ummah eat complete dinners? And today I appreciate what I got for three odd days He (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) didn’t eat food. Signs were given to ask! But no. One day passed , second day passed third day passed it’s the fourth day when Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him)  went to a field and picked up Expired dates and ate them, Abdullah Ibn Umar was with him, Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him)  said “ Abdullah aren’t you eating?” he replied “O Messenger of Allah, I am not hungry”. Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him)  said: “Abdullah I am hungry Today is the fourth day I haven’t eaten anything”.

My Muslim brothers this is The Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) whose Sunnah your slaughtering (destroying) today, shaving off your beard and going to pray Jummah (the friday prayer)? Coming to pray Jummah with an exposed head (without a cap)? Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) never ever go on a day in his life with exposing his head. Only in Ihraam (during Hajj and Umrah) His head was exposed and lead prayer in this manner. So what harm could possibly come to you if you put a cap on your head? What will happen to you if you raise your trousers above your ankles? Your trousers are dragging below your feet if you just raise them up a little it will bring coolness to the eyes of Our Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him).  

You have welcomed the oppressors and made your tongue impure (lying). How much are you applying the Sunnah of The Beloved Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) into your life? You can at least wear the clothing as prescribed by Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) but instead you wear Western clothing and go to Jummah (Friday prayer) like that. Didn’t your Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) have any clothing for you to emulate? Didn’t He (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) have any culture which we can emulate? Are you attacking his sunnah and looking for faults? If you are looking for faults then look for faults in the western culture. Have you realized who you have attacked? The one who already sacrificed everything for his ummah (people). 

Upon one occasion it is said that once a man was going to murder his mother as his lover told him that if he brings his mother’s heart to her then she will marry him. The delinquent cut open his mother and removed her heart and as he was going back he tripped over and his mother’s heart spoke out with love saying “Oh My Son Are You Okay?” The voice came from the heart saying “Oh my son I hope you’re okay!” and Our Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him)  was more loving than these mothers even. What have we done on the other hand? We’ve put his sunnah to the sword. If you follow the sunnah clothing what will happen? Will your status within society decline?. My Muslim brothers at least recognize who are your friends and who are you enemies, at least identify those who are trustworthy and those who are unjust.

On the plane of resurrection the hell fire will be screaming roaring. Big Angels will fall onto the ground. Humans, Jinns, Awliya, Mukarabeen, Mujjahideen, Shuhada, Ulema , Maffusireen Bang! They are all falling to the ground and according to hadith it is stated that “A man will have Amaal (deeds) equivalent to 70 Prophets”, But even he will say I am not safe today. All the Prophets will say “Nafsee Nafsee”, they will worry about themselves. Hazrat Adam (A.S) will say “Nafsee Nafsee” (“O Allah Today, I need Saving I am not interceding for anyone else”), Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) will say “O Allah for the sake of our friendship save me today I am not interceding for anyone else”, Hazrat Musa (A.S) will say “O Allah, save me today I am not interceding for anyone else”, and the same will be the case with all others Hazrat Yusuf, Yaqoob, Ishaq, Ibrahim , Ismail (A.S) they all will say: “O Allah Nafsee Nafsee! Save us! We aren’t interceding for anyone”, Hazrat Isa (A.S) will say “O Allah, O Allah, O Allah, I’m not even interceding my mother Mariyam just save me! Just save me!”. Mothers, fathers, wives, children all will say “O Allah save me” throughout the whole plane of resurrection there will be only ‘One Noble Man’  and we all know who that man will be He’s Prophet Muhammad (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) whose arms are open and hands are raised and he isn’t saying ‘Nafsee Nafsee’ but instead He (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) is saying: “O Allah My Ummah (people), O Allah My Ummah (people), O Allah My Ummah (people)”. 

We should at least have some sense of realization. Have we become lower than dogs? Feed a dog once and he has full trust for you from that day onwards. Is there anyone amongst us who can return the favors for Prophet (May Peace & Blessing be upon him)?. Only Allah (s.w.t) can reward him we haven’t got anything to offer him (May Peace & Blessing be upon him) we have hurt his feelings, we have put his soul in unrest. So my brothers repent today and make the intention to adopt the Holy, pure, blessed, complete, and bright way of life of Hazrat Muhammad (May Peace & Blessing be upon him). 

When our coffins are carried we’ll be buried and the people will return and then it will be as though we didn’t ever exist.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

A Short Story - 'Better to Give'

A young man, a student in one of the universities, was one day taking a walk with a Professor, who was commonly called the student's friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.

As they went along,they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by,and who had nearly finished his day's work.

The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."

"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of the poor. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of this poor man. Put a coin in each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how this affects him."

The student did so and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes.

While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes, but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it around, and looked at it again and again.

He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.

His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to the heavens and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving in which he spoke of his wife who was sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom this timely bounty, from some unknown hand,would save from perishing.

The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the professor, are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?"

The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of these words, which I never understood before: "It's more blessed to give than to receive."

Abdullah bin Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallAllahu alaiyhi wassallam) said that encouraging good, prohibiting evil, lifting the burden of the weak person and removing an offensive thing from a path are all acceptable prayers to Allah. [ibn Majah]


Sunday, November 20, 2011

10 Reasons to Strive for Generosity of Spirit and Kindness in Speech


Right understanding is the foundation for developing a proper sense of values, so sorely lacking in our age. Without right understanding our vision is dimmed and the way is lost; all our efforts will be misguided and misdirected, all our plans for individual and social development must flounder and fail. Such plans will have to be based on the Eightfold Path with its emphasis on self-effort, self-control, and respect for the individual. 

When wrong views prevail we will operate with a perverted sense of values: we will fling ourselves into the blind pursuit of wealth, power, and possessions; we will be obsessed by the urge to conquer and dominate; we will pine for ruthless revenge; we will dumbly conform to social conventions and norms. Right views will point us towards an enlightened sense of values: towards detachment and kindness; towards generosity of spirit and selfless service to others; towards the pursuit of wisdom and understanding. The confusion and moral lunacy now prevalent in the world can be eased, if not eliminated, if the path of the Buddha is followed. Right livelihood and right action, for instance, can help us avoid the conflicts that result from a wrong way of life and wrong action, thereby enabling a society to live in peace and harmony.

In The Light of Qur'an & Hadith:

1) The Messenger of Allah (s.w.t)
(Peace & Blessings be upon him) said, “Kind speech and feeding (the hungry) guarantee you Paradise." [Al-Tabarani]

2) “And speak nicely to people." [Surah Al-Baqarah Ch:2 V:83]

3) “When you are greeted with a greeting, greet in return with what is better than it, or (at least) return it equally." [Surah An-Nisa’, Ch:4 V:86]

Ibn Abbas commented on this and said, “He who greets you return his greeting in better words. He also said, “If Pharoah were to speak nicely to me, I would do so to him."


4
) Anas (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.w.t) (Peace & Blessings be upon him) said, “Verily there are chambers in Paradise; their insides and outsides can be seen – for him who spoke kindly and fed (the hungry)." [Al-Tirmidhi]

5
) Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings be upon him) also said, “A good word is also a charitable deed." [Sahih Al-Muslim]

6
) “Ward off the Fire even if by giving half a date in charity. If you could not afford that then utter a kind word." [Sahih Al-Bukhari and Al-Muslim]

7
) `Umar (ra) said, “Generosity is an easy thing. It is a smiling face and kind words."

8
) Some wise men said, “Do not be stingy with a word that does not arouse your Lord’s wrath yet it pleases your brother. It may happen that Allah (s.w.t) gives you the reward of those who do good works."

9
) “And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give to their kinsmen, the poor, and those who left their homes for Allah (s.w.t)’s cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not wish that Allah (s.w.t) should forgive you?" [Surah An-Nur Ch:24 V:22].

Abu Bakr (ra) had cut off his financial support of his relative Mustah because Mustah had participated in the slander against his daughter `A’ishah (ra). After this verse was revealed, he resumed and even increased the amount he gave Mustah in financial support.

10
) “Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish." [Surah Al-‘A’raf Ch:7 V:199]

Saturday, November 19, 2011

How Merciful Allah (s.w.t) Is To His Creation

According To Hadith Qudsi Allah (s.w.t) said:
“I was a hidden treasure, and I wished that I be recognized, and this is why I created”. 

Hence the reason for creation was love. Allah (s.w.t) created everything out of love and therefore He loves what He has created. Subsequently He loves the believers even more intensely. We all say we love Allah (s.w.t) and Prophet Muhammad (May Peace & Blessings be upon him) but how many of us live our life according to Qur’an and Sunnah of Our Beloved Prophet (May Peace & Blessings be upon him)? Do we follow Allah’s command? Even if all mankind combine their love it won’t amount to the love that Allah (s.w.t) has for His creations.

Hadith also tells us that ‘Allah divided His mercy into seventy parts, and distributed one of those parts in the creation around us. Let us think of all the love in this world be it between a mother and child, a husband and wife, a brother and sister be it between animals and their young, be it between friends and so on. All the love amongst these people and in this world comprises just one part out of seventy of Allah’s mercy. This brings to mind the question that what tremendous mercy might Allah show on the Day of Judgment?

Allah (s.w.t) is exceedingly merciful. Ar-Rehman & Ar-Raheem are the very first two names (qualities) of Allah (s.w.t).

Ar-Rehman means:
‘The Compassionate’, ‘The Beneficent’, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter. 

Ar-Raheem means:
‘The Merciful’, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.

Story of an idol worshiper:
Once an idol worshipper used to worship an idol named ‘Sanam’. He sat up calling the name “Ya Sanam” all night, and towards the dawn he started getting drowsy and so he mistakenly took one of the Glorious names of Allah (s.w.t), “Ya Samad”. Allah (s.w.t) immediately turned His attention and asked “What do you want My servant?”. The angels said in astonishment, “O Allah, this is an idol worshipper and only took Your name in forgetfulness.” Allah (s.w.t) said, “This person calls on these idols all night and they don’t answer him. What difference is there between Me and the idols if I don’t answer him either?” 


Allah (s.w.t) wants us to seek forgiveness and come towards Him. As per Hadith Prophet Muhammed (May Peace & Blessings be upon Him) was travelling and stopped on the way at a village. A woman was cooking at a fire nearby and he noticed that she constantly had to push her child back who would come forward. She said to the Prophet, “I work with this fire all day, my son wants to play with it but I have to push him back all the time because I’m frightened for him. If Allah (s.w.t) loves us more than we love our children, how can he put us in hell?” Hearing this Messenger of Allah (s.w.t) sat with his head bowed and his eyes filled with tears. He cried for some time and then said, “Allah does not want to send His creation into Hell, but it is man himself who buys hell for himself through his disobedience towards Allah (s.w.t). He forgets where he has come from and who his caretaker is. He does not seek forgiveness from his Creator.”


Only a mother can know and understand how much love Allah (s.w.t) has put in her heart for her children. A mother loves her children unconditionally, with no display. A mother loves her child whether the child is obedient or disobedient, honorable or dishonorable. After Allah(s.w.t) and Prophet Muhammad (May Peace & Blessings be upon Him), only a mother can love even the disobedient. This world likes the successful and good, but hates those who are hateful and diresepctful and rejects them. However, a mother is a mother and loves her children no matter if they are obedient or disobedient, kind or unkind. A mother would love her child even if they are rude to her. No matter what happens a mother can never be separated from her child.


A mother tries so hard to get her child to read The Glorious Qur’an and pray ‘Salah’ (prayer) but if the child does not listen to her you can’t blame the mother can you?  Only Allah (s.w.t) knows what difficulty she is going through since He is the Knower of all Things but through the mothers dua’s (prayers) the child is able to do this. She continues going through this struggle and hardship because Allah has put the love for her children in her heart.


Allah (s.w.t) is ‘The Most Merciful’ ‘The Most Beneficent’ Who wants to forgive us and His Mercy tries to find excuses for forgiving us. We must take advantage of the time that we have in this life and seek forgiveness and amend our ways. May Allah (s.w.t) give us the ability to do so.