Friday, October 10, 2008

In the midst of spiritual journey

O God, help me against this self of mine
that is seeking help from You;
I seek justice from no one but from
this justice-seeking self.
I shall not get justice from any one except from
Him who is nearer to me than myself;
For this I-ness comes moment by moment from Him.

The spiritual heir of Muhammed is seated in front of you,
but where indeed is "front"?
He is before you, but where is the soul that thinks "before"?
if you fancy you have a "before" and "behind",
you are tied to body and deprived of spirit.
"Below" and "above", "before" and "behind", are attributes of the body: the essence of the bright spirit IS.



Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi

Simple things...Lessons learned

Five lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.



1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.



2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an elderly African-American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached..

It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.



3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.



4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Tolerance and lack thereof

Salam-o-Alaikum,

I hope you are all doing well. I am doing very well, Alhamdulillah. It is becoming ever so hard to stay calm and peaceful in the light of all the events taking place all around us.

There is so much fitna, blasphemy, and other factors that lead many to lose their cool and fall prey to the whispers of the wicked satan. When you look around, you see so much injustice and a total lack of tolerance. Luckily there still are many who preach of peace and love. The path of peace is becoming like a narrow alley that gets tighter and tigher with every step. It has come to a point where you cannot live in the society w/out being bothered by what surrounds you, and often rubbing shoulders against the walls surrounding your sovereignty and faith.

One of the biggest problems seems to be the lack of tolerance for each other. We find it much easier to just let out our anger, rather than to control it and fight the evil within us. I read somewhere that Whenever you get angry, it is the Satan that puts a burning coal on your heart and forces you to scream out and say things which you otherwise would not have, had you not lost your cool. It is a sunnah to do wudu whenever you're angry because it cools you.

We all are in desperate need of outreach and spreading forgiveness and blessing others even when they speak wickedly of you.

It would be perfect to cite the words of wisdom and a narration of the beloved Prophet (PBUH):

The Prophet (may peace be upon him) was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him, abused him and hit him with stones. He left the city humiliated and wounded. When he took shelter under a tree, the angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the people of Ta’if because of their sin of maltreating their Prophet. Muhammad (may peace be upon him) prayed to Allah to save the people of Ta’if, because what they did was out of their ignorance. (from wikipedia)

If our beloved Prophet (PBUH) and we're meant to follow his way and adhere to the way of the Prophet, then we should strive to do the same. It does more to spread the message of Islam than to show disrespect and stoop to the level of those who mock you.

It is mentioned in a Hadith that:

Forgive others because do you not want Allah to forgive you?


Instead of letting it out, here we are told to be patient by our Lord who is Knower and Hearer of all things.
We are encouraged by our Creator over and over to forgive others, so that He may forgive our mistakes. It is a double reward with Allah for implementing this characteristic, because Allah says in the Qur’an which means:
“...Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah An-Noor 24:22)It is much easier said than done. But that is the inner Jihad. A struggle for the safety of the soul from becoming corrupted. A peaceful mind and soul is a soul bound for reward with Allah (SWT).

I too am guilty of being tempermental at times but Alhamdulillah, i have been able to change my ways so far. I am in a constant struggle to fight the evil within me and become a more loving person, a more peaceful human, and a better Muslim.

Moreover, If we could even follow this simple hadith of the Prophet who said:

“He who conceals (the faults) of a Muslim, Allah would conceal his faults in this world and in the Hereafter,” not only would we benefit immensely, but our brother would be saved of being humiliated at the same time.
I pray to Allah that he give us the understanding to forgive each other and to refrain from being angry at each other. Ameen.

I pray and hope that Allah (SWT) give us all the strength to struggle, and become the best muslims. Ameen.

A Lasting Pain...A forever Torment

AsSalaam-o-Alaikum!

I hope you are all doing well. It has been a while since i have posted, for which I'm sorry.
I'm always on the soul-search. Just as many of your may as well be. It's a journey like none other. You dive so deep into yourself sometimes, it often becomes hard to escape and return to yourself again. Alhamdulillah, it's a feeling like none other to be able to find your wrongs and feel the need to correct them. While looking within myself and allll that is happening around us today, an interesting thing came to mind. What exactly is pain? This is what i thought.........


The biggest pain of all pains is the one none of us ever experience. Should a thorn pierce the skin, one cries out with pain. A wound can
make the strongest of us weak. But have we ever thought of the ultimate pain? The pain that can, and inevitably will last forever.

Nothing describeable or indescribeable is even close to the Ultimate torture and pain. Not a lost loved one in this world, not the breaking of heart or crushing of emotions, not the humiliation befalling us at the hands of others, not the physical pain inflicted on ourselves.
Nothing...............But There IS Another Pain!

Imagine the dreaded day when your good deeds fall short, and nothing of the world you left behind and took pride in, will avail you that
day. Not your money, not your property, not your friends, not your family, Nothing At All, except what you did in the way of Allah. All that you did to please the creator will be preserved and last forever. But will ye have saved enough for the afterlife? Or are you of those who are busily worried about this world with no care for
the hereafter?

Imagine when we are all gathered on the plains, the Throne is lowered, Heavens and Hell are brought closer. While the pleasing sight of Heaven leave you in awe, there's the screaming, the scortching heat, the hot wind of Hellfire that will await some. Then what will ye do? Who will you count on to intercede for you? The messenger of Allah, whose way your abandoned or chose to ignore or forget for sometime?

Is it that we forget about the hereafter, or have we come to a stage where we just dont' believe in it anymore? Have we forgotten that Allah(SWT) blessed us humans with more than we are worthy of. He made the earth, the moon, the sun, the plants, the fruits, the grains, the
water, the air pure and clean, and granted us power over all beings. How unthankful are we! We often forget that we, the flesh and bones stem from the one Adam(a.s.) whom Allah (SWT) created Himself. Taught him all that we know. Made the angels bow and prostrate before our father Adam (a.s.). How unthankful are we! Satan made a promise to misguide, trick, and mislead us from the straight path. Yet we do exactly what the evil whispers suggest. How naive are we!

The day is not too far when all these things will be witness to our doings.

Can you imagine the first criminal that is taken into custody that day. The custody of forever. The command will pass: Shackle Him! Seize Him!
Then will that hellbound soul be dragged into the scortching fires of hell dragged by the face.

It's a thought none of us should have to imagine, but it should just as well never be forgotten. While Allah (SWT) is most merciful, most beneficent, He is Just. You will not enter paradise but by the grace and mercy of Allah alone.

I pray and hope for us all. I pray that none of us will be covered with misery and humiliation. We ought to work righteous deeds. For they are all that will last, all else will perish. Shed tears when you remember your sins, little or big, Cry and ask for forgiveness. You never know when any one of those tears will be accepted and may become the pearl of all forgiveness for you. It is said that when the Hellfires are at their extreme and the screams of the punished reach the ears of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), Angel Gabriel will arrive to the beloved Prophet (PBUH) with a bowl of liquid. Knowing well that nothing can calm that fire. That fire burns anything it touches. Yet Prophet (PBUH) will be asked to sprinkle a few drops and calm the fire. Diminish it. When asked, Angel Gabriel will respond "These are the tears of those who repented...they have been forgiven, their tears have been preserved, they have been accepted, and these blessed tears alone can calm the fires." SubhanAllah......Do we do that?

When you pray, when you dua, when you cry, when you weep for your forgiveness, Remember all of us. Remember your neighbors, your relatives, when you dua, remember us all. For we never know whose dua and tears may save us all.

May Allah(SWT) grant us the strength in faith so that we may return to our ways of doing righteous deeds, to loving each other. To being better muslims and an example for others to follow.

The Ultimate Fear

As-Salam-o-Alaikum!

I hope you're all doing well. I'm fine, Alhamdulillah.


I've been wondering and for the past week or so thinking very much about the fears within me. Then i've thought about the fears other may have, and are all our fears related?
To each is own, may be true, but i do believe there is the ultimate fear that we all share as common.
The ultimate fear for me is not the fear of death, but rather How it will occur. Where will i be? What willl i be doing when my time arrives? Will you, my loved ones, or anyone that knows me, know that i have departed? Will i die when i'm so far from all those who know me? Will i die doing a good deed? Will i die in a most humiliating manner? Will I? Will I? Will I......

Doesn't the fear of how you will die, seem like the ultimate fear. When anyone goes outside the house, have you ever thought? What if........something happens to them while they're still out. You'll never know...

So what's one to do? Pray? Dua? Hope? Cry endlessly because the fear just won't leave you? Toss and turn with a million thoughts rumbling through your mind while you lay there, calm as ever, yet the storm inside your head seems never-ending. You lay there wondering, if you'll even see the next morning light. Have i done enough today to prepare me, if next breath be my last?
What exactly do you do? Do you really have a choice to ignore and pretend the fear is not there? Or do you get up shaking with the fear, and pray for forgiveness. Pray for a better way in which you leave this world, leaving behind all that ye thought was to remain, but little do we realize that it's all but just a show for some time, and then we depart to return to the realm that is everlasting.

I pain, it tears my heart to shreds just thinking about it. I can't help but drop on my knees and just beg for forgiveness of my sins.

I pray to Allah (SWT) that my time comes when i am surrounded by all those who love me. I pray that my loved ones depart in the presence of me and other loved ones. I pray that Allah (SWT) strengthens my heart, body and soul, so that i may act in ways that ensure a better hereafter. I pray that you all return to the lord in a most humble manner, in a manner that which is best for us all.

"He is the One who puts you to death during the night, and knows even the smallest of your actions during the day. He resurrects you every morning, until your life span is fulfilled, then to Him is your ultimate return. He will then inform you of everything you had done." 6:60

Another kind of love

There's the love between people, a significant other, parents, siblings. And............................then there's the love for the Creator and His messenger. The Love of the Almighty is that which once it takes hold, is forever. It never hurts you. It never betrays you. It never leaves you in despair. It then becomes a way of life, and a purpose in itself. Often finding the true love is thought as the journey; the rest is harvesting the hard work put into finding the love.

There have been many messengers with the message of love, and masses followed. The evil of time impacts that love and tests you time and time again while you search for the love. It leads you astray, it leads you to love the false. The evil that which is part of the journey to finding the love often makes all the bad seem the good, while good seems impossible to ever adopt to. That is................................................ ...........until you find yourself lost within yourself, so deep in the search of your soul, that suddenly you realize there's no love but the Love of Allah (SWT) and his messenger(s). To love is to follow through on the commitment, do your part and you shall never be hopeless again. Follow the rules of Love, and your life will be comfortable and easy.
A poem comes to mind:

Love came and spread like blood in my veins and skin of me.
It filled me with the Beloved and completely emptied me.
The Beloved has taken over all parts of my existence.
Only my name remains, all else is He.


I'm in such a state right now, i'm surrounded by so many people, yet feeling so lonely. I have no one but the love of my Lord Almighty. May Allah (SWT) give me the courage to pass the test, to love mankind, to live in the best of manner as taught by the beloved Messenger (Rasul Allah, SalAllahu Alaihi Wasallam). May Allah (SWT) fill the hearts of all that occupy this earth with peace, tranquility, and tolerance. May Allah (SWT) fulfill all your wishes, and His blessing be on all of you that are reading this, and all who are not. May Allah (SWT) make me a better person, a better son, a better companion for whomever i'm meant to be a companion to in this life. May Allah (SWT) protect those in journey and make their journey a safe one, and give us all the strength to feel, realize, and live with the love for the One and Only.

Ashhadu Allah Ilaha IllAllah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad-ur-Rasool Allah