Monday, August 20, 2012

The Eid of our Pious Predecessors


Eid-ul-Fitr is not all about dressing up in fine new clothes, eating delicious treats and pursuing carnal pleasures and delights.

In its outward celebration Eid-ul-Fitr is actually meant to symbolize:
  • the acceptance of acts of worshipful obedience;
  • the remission of sins and mistakes;
  • the conversion of bad deeds into good deeds;
  • the glad tidings of promotion to higher spiritual degrees
  • and the conferring of robes of honor, gifts and gracious favors.

Eid should be celebrated, but together with celebrating it, Allah Ta’ala should also be remembered.
Whether there is happiness or sadness, He should never be forgotten; just as Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has said, “The people who will be called towards Paradise first on the Day of Judgment are those who praised Allah Ta’ala during happiness and sadness.”

 Let us look at the true essence and significance of Eid-ul-Fitr and the way in which those pious servants closest to Almighty Allah celebrated Eid.

Eid of our Pious Predecessors 
If we study the lives of the Companions and our pious predecessors we will see that even though they used to worship extensively in the month of Ramadaan, they would still feel regret and sorrow on the day of Eid. They were constantly worried about the fact of whether or not they had fulfilled the rights of Ramadaan.

Sayidinna Umar RA
It is reported about Hazrat Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) that on the day of Eid, he sat in a corner and cried so much that his blessed beard became soaked. When people asked the reason for this, he replied, “How can a person who does not know if his fasts have been accepted celebrate Eid?”  

This is that same Hazrat Umar (Radiallahu Ta’ala ‘Anh) about whom Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that his good deeds are equivalent to the number of stars in the sky, is crying upon reflecting as to whether his fasts have been accepted or not, whether he has obeyed the orders of Almighty Allah properly and if Allah Ta’ala is pleased with them.
Allahu Akbar Kabeera!
And yet sinners like us are absolutely carefree and cannot wait to engage ourselves into sin again!

Sayidinna Ali RA
It was on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr that a man once entered the presence of Hadrat Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) and found him eating coarse brown bread.
“Today is the day of Eid, yet here you are, eating coarse brown bread!” the man exclaimed.
So Hadrat Ali (Radiallahu Ta’ala Anh) replied to the visitor, saying, “Today is the day of Eid for someone whose fast has been accepted, whose effort has been deemed worthy, and whose sin has been forgiven. Today is Eid for us, and tomorrow is Eid for us. Every day in which we do not disobey Allah Ta’ala is an Eid for us.”

Commenting on this incident,  Hazrat Shaykh Sayyid Abdul Qadir Jilani (R.A.) says that it is therefore important for every intelligent person to stop focusing on the external aspect, and not to let it capture his attention. His perspective on the day of Eid should be from the standpoint of contemplation and reflection.

Let us, this year spend a different Eid than we have spent all our lives, and show some loyalty to our Rabb who gave us the blessing of Ramadan. Let us prove to Him that we worship not only the Rabb of Ramadan but the Rabb of all 12 months. And that we want to please Him outside of Ramadan as well!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/notes/zaynab-academy-karachi-unofficial/the-eid-of-our-pious-predecessors/233043146819067

Saturday, August 11, 2012

'500 Years of Worship' - A Tue Story of a Pious Man



Angel Jibrail (as) told Prophet Muhammad (saw) the following incident about a man in the past who worshiped Allah (swt) continuously for 500 years. He was granted a shelter on top of a mountain that was surrounded by salty water. However, Allah caused a stream of sweet water to flow through the mountain for that individual. The man would drink from this water and use it to make ablution. Allah  (swt) also raised a pomegranate tree from which the man would eat one fruit every day.

One day, this person supplicated to Allah that, "Oh Allah, bring my death while I am in the state of prostration." Allah accepted this dua of his. Whenever Jibrail (as) came down to the Earth, he found this man prostrating to Allah. Jibrail (as) said that on the day of Judgement, Allah will tell the angels to take this individual to Paradise through His mercy. However, this man will insist that he should enter paradise through the good deeds that he had performed.

Then, Allah will tell the angels to compare his good deeds with the blessings that were given to him in the world. It will be seen that 500 years of his worship does not even equal to the gift of eye sight that was given to him by Allah. The angels will be asked to take him towards the hell fire. Then the man will plead, "Oh Allah! Enter me into Paradise only through Your mercy." At that point, the following discussion will take place between Allah and that man.

Allah (swt): Oh my servant, who created you?

The worshiper: Oh Allah, You have created me.

Allah (swt): Were you created because of the good deeds you have done or because of My mercy?

The worshiper: Because of Your mercy.

Allah (swt): Who granted you the ability to worship for 500 years?

The worshiper: Oh the Almighty! You have granted me that ability.

Allah (swt): Who placed you on the mountain surrounded by the ocean? Who caused a stream of sweet water to flow in between the salty water? Who caused a pomegranate tree to grow for you? Who granted you death while in the state of prostration?

The worshiper: Oh the Sustainer of the Worlds! You have done all of these.

Then Allah (swt) will say, "All these have happened due to My mercy and you too will enter Paradise only through My Mercy."

We can never thank Allah (swt) for the blessings that He has given us. Let us use these blessings to recognize Allah before our death.

Source: Obtained from the book "Tambihul Ghafileen" by Shaikh Abul Laith Samarkandi.

Monday, August 6, 2012

A True Muslim Leader

Once Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho), during his caliphate, was going on his usual rounds towards Harrah (a suburb of Madinah) with his slave Aslam, when he saw a distant fire in the desert. He said, "There seems to be a camp. Perhaps, it is a caravan that could not enter the town due to night fall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for their protection during the night."

When he reached there, he found a woman and some children. The children were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission, went near her. (The woman didn't recognize that it was Umar).

Umar, "Why are these children crying?"

The Woman, "Because they are hungry."

Umar, "What is in the pan?"

The Woman, "Only water to soothe the children, so that they may go to sleep in the belief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah will judge between Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) and me, on the Day of Judgment, for neglecting me in my distress."

Umar (weeping), "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of your distress?"

The Woman, "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us."

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) returned to the town and straight away went to the Baitul Mal (House of Charity) to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat, and clothes, and also drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam, "Now put this sack on my back, Aslam."

Aslam, "No please, Amir-ul-Momineen! I shall carry this sack."

Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked, "What! Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgment? I must carry this bag, for it is I who would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman."

Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (Radhiyallaho Anho) back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. Aslam followed at his heels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat in the pan and began to stir. He blew (with his mouth) into the fire to kindle it.

Aslam says, "I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard."

After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the family. When they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the little that was left for their next meal. The children were very happy after their meal and began to play about merrily.

The woman felt very grateful and remarked, "May Allah reward you for your kindness! In fact you deserve to take the place of Khalifah instead of Umar."

Umar consoled her and said, "When you come to see the Khalifah, you will find me there."

He sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching the children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back, he said to Aslam, "Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them weeping in distress. I liked to see them laughing and happy for some time."


Thursday, August 2, 2012

Brother begging on streets to save her baby sister who's lying in a cardboard box



In 1973 photographer Chick Harrity snapped one of the Vietnam War's most memorable images. It showed a baby girl, named Tran Thie Het Nhanny, lying in a cardboard box next to her brother, who begged on the streets of Saigon.

When the photo was published in February of that year, it inspired Americans to raise money to bring the baby to the US to undergo surgery to correct a congenital heart defect.

The White House News Photographers' Association on Saturday gave a lifetime achievement award to Harrity, whose 48-year career included 35 years in Washington.

To Harrity's surprise the award was presented by the woman whose image he captured in that famous photograph. After surgery in the US, Nhanny was adopted by an American woman and now lives in Ohio.

President George Bush was the guest of honour at the ceremony. Introducing himself as "Laura Bush's straight man" he added the narration to a series of joke photos he brought along.

"I know you think you are documenting the Bush presidency, but you have nothing on my mother," he told the gathering of photographers at the start of a series of pictures showing former first lady Barbara Bush taking snapshots.

Many of Mr Bush's photos were of White House photographers assuming various odd positions to get just the right angle - including one lying on the grass for what appeared to be an up close and personal view of dog Barney's rear.

However, closing on a serious note, Mr Bush said: "When people think of historic events, they don't usually remember the words … they remember the images. One photo may not tell us the entire truth, but it gives us a piece of the truth … a glimpse of history, and that's important work."