Inspiration

Last year I was inspired to do something creative! And here's the result:

Lessons of Life - Shukr

some of you might remember my mom's friend - who was having a tough time making the ends meet - Yes, last ramadan. She called up my mother in law this morning, and she's short by Rs. 20, 000 = $500 for her son's fees. The deadline is the 31st of this month.

Subhan Allah, its amazing how her own family have left her hanging . Her own brothers and sisters - i just can't imagine how someone can be so hard-hearted. Insha Allah, Allah will open other doors for her.

She gets some 10K as rent from her basement - which is all used up in the monthly expenses. In addition, she herself, hasn't been feeling too well - so frequent visits to the doctors is another expenses. Recently, she has been diagnosed with Spondylitis.

As I traced this post from my blog history, I was reminded of the lesson that was intended. Shukr. Alhamdulillah. So often we often.

Reflection 15 - Masjid (2)

On the 27th night, expecting the masjid to be packed, we went early. Just as I was entering the masjid, I could hear the adhan over the speakers. I sat down, trying to block people's conversations around, concentrating on the words of the adhan.

Come to the prayer,
Come to Prayer

حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ
، حَىَّ عَلَى الصَّلَاةِ
Come to the Success,
Come to Success
حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ
حَىَّ عَلَى الْفَلَاحِ
I've heard these words a number of times, but that day they stroke a faint, elusive chord. Salah and falah. That is, prayer and success. If salah is meant to be a means to success, is my salah up to par? The Prophet, Peace and Blessing be upon him, said, "The coolness of my eyes lies in offering Salat." Is it mine too? Do I find the inner peace in my salah?

The Prophet would say: “Give us comfort by the prayer O Bilal”. Do I look forward to the next prayer? Salah has been called "a momin's miraaj". Do I treat Salah as an honour given to this Ummah?

What am I doing to fix my salah? To perfect it in order to gain the ultimate benefit from it - Success in the Hereafter

Reflections 14 - Masjid

"Sami' Allahu hameeda", echoed over the speaker... And I could almost hear a "Rabbana Lakal Hamad" - so I thought.

It's been 10 years since I've been for Hajj. Those who've been there know this: In the Holy Kaba'h, there are two imams - the first says "Sami' Allahu hameeda", and the other echoes "Rabbana Lakal Hamad". And the other day when I was offering isha at the neighbourhood masjid, I could recall that moment exactly - I even remember how the imam sounded. I closed my eyes, and imagined the Holy Kaba'h in front me. I pray I can go back again - soon, Insha Allah..

I was in my early teens, and don't recall much from my Hajj experiences. Some moments - like the salah - are very vivid, and others very vague. Those who have been there recently will remember the feeling - there's this sense of awe. It's just a blessed feeling, and Alhamdulillah, everyone's in such high spiritual states.

Next time I go, Insha Allah, I'll somehow save these moments - diary entries, videos, or even just audio recording. May Allah give us all a chance to visit His House at least once in our lifetimes. On that note, here's a nasheed by Irfan Makki I really like:

I'm thinking all the time when the day will come
Standing there before you accept this hajj of mine
Standing in the ihram making my tawaf drinking blessings from your well
The challenge of safa and marwa rekindles my imaan,
Oh Allah I am waiting for the call, praying for the day when I can be near to the kabah wall

Listen to it on LightUponLight

Another special moment in the taraweeh is the sight of Sujood. Every sujood - especially when the verse of Sajdah is recited.

Imagine: The Quran is being recited, and the verse commands the believers to prostrate - immediately everyone throws themselves in sujood with a sense of humility and abasing our ego. I pray we obey ALL of Allah's commands with the same spirit - with no second thoughts, with no questions asked - and of course, with a feeling of immense gratitude for our Creator, ameen

Reflection 13 - Ya Abati

وَاذْكُرْ فِي الْكِتَابِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صِدِّيقًا نَّبِيًّا
19:41 AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Abraham. [31] Behold, he was a man of truth, [already] a prophet

إِذْ قَالَ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ لِمَ تَعْبُدُ مَا لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِي عَنكَ شَيْئًا
19:42 when he spoke [thus] unto his father: "O my father! Why dost thou worship something that neither hears nor sees and can be of no avail whatever to thee?

يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي قَدْ جَاءنِي مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَمْ يَأْتِكَ فَاتَّبِعْنِي أَهْدِكَ صِرَاطًا سَوِيًّا
19:43 "O my father! Behold, there has indeed come to me [a ray] of knowledge such as has never yet come unto thee: follow me, then; I shall guide thee onto a perfect way.

يَا أَبَتِ لَا تَعْبُدِ الشَّيْطَانَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلرَّحْمَنِ عَصِيًّا
19:44 "O my father! Do not worship Satan-for, verily, Satan is a rebel against the Most Gracious!


يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَن يَمَسَّكَ عَذَابٌ مِّنَ الرَّحْمَن فَتَكُونَ لِلشَّيْطَانِ وَلِيًّا
19:45 O my father! I dread lest a chastisement from the Most Gracious befall thee, and then thou wilt become [aware of having been] close unto Satan!"


قَالَ أَرَاغِبٌ أَنتَ عَنْ آلِهَتِي يَا إِبْراهِيمُ لَئِن لَّمْ تَنتَهِ لَأَرْجُمَنَّكَ وَاهْجُرْنِي مَلِيًّا
19:46 He answered: "Dost thou dislike my gods, O Abraham? Indeed, if thou desist not, I shall most certainly cause thee to be stoned to death! Now begone from me for good!"


Verses about the story of Prophet Ibrahim alayhis Salam. He is calling his father to worshiping One God. But the father is persistent on atheism

Looking at the verses carefully, notice "يَا أَبَتِ"Ask a student of Arabic language, and they'll tell you about the ت at the end. It's the ت of compassion.

He could have called him abi (my father) but the “ت” makes the word affectionate. It reflects his fondness for his father, although he was an idol worshipper.

The letter ت teaches us here to love and respect our parents, to honour them.

Saad Ibn Abi Waqqas was a similar example. The verses of Quran revealed were:

31:14 “And [God says:] ‘We have enjoined upon man goodness towards his parents: his mother bore him by bearing strain upon strain, and his utter dependence on her lasted two years: [hence, O man,] be grateful towards Me and towards thy parents, [and remember that] with Me is all journeys’ end.

31:15 “‘[Revere thy parents;] yet should they endeavour to make thee ascribe divinity, side by side with Me, to something which thy mind cannot accept [as divine], obey them not; but [even then] bear them company in this world’s life with kindness, and follow the path of those who turn towards Me. In the end, unto Me you all must return; and thereupon I shall make you [truly] understand all that you were doing [in life].’

------
Additional Reading:
SAD IBN ABI WAQQAS
Prophet Ibrahim
Miracle - Grammar used to illustrate a Quranic principle

Reflection 12 - Denial

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاء رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?- 55:49

Today the imam recited this surah in the taraweeh. It mentioned all the bounties of Allah this world and hereafter. Had the imam mentioned this verse one more time, I would been in tears! What an ungrateful slave am I? How many times have I heard/recited this surah, and I'm still not thankful.

Mufti Shafi in Maariful Quran says the verse is repeated (31 times) deliberately in order to awaken people and urge them to give thanks to Allah. The repetition serves the deliberate purpose of 'emphasis'.

Why has my heart hardened? Why don't I wake up?

No repetition in the Quran is redundant. The Speech of Allah is too Pure. The repetition in Surah Kafiroon² serves a unique purpose. The repetition in Surah Rahman, according to Mufti Shafi, is each related to a new subject, and having its own significance.

Allama Suyuti terms this repetition as At-tardid.

References:

1. English-MaarifulQuran-MuftiShafiUsmaniRA-Vol-8-Page-227-282
2. Surah Kafirun on SunniPath Blog

Reflection 11 - Dua

Came across this dua in my recitation today:

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَاجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّاتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍ وَاجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

O my Lord! Grant unto us spouses and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous [الفرقان :74]

:)

Reflections 10- Reward

It's ramadan. Everyone's fasting, reciting the Quran, helping with organizing iftars, being part of food drives, and making use of every opportunity to do good. But there are some among us who aren't as able - the old, the sick, the pregnant. It might seem like there are missing out such opportunities. They feel really low and sad. I was thinking about it, and remembered this hadith.

الطّاعِمُ الشاكرُ كاصائم الصابِِِِرِ
The one who eats and is thankful is like the one who fasts and is patient.

A close look on the hadith: ATa'imu and ATshakiru are in the same state, same gender, and same in plurality. Therefore, it's a mausoof-sifah structure. What that means is it's a descriptive phrase. the particle ك- is used for "like" (discussed on Arabic Learners)
On the other side of "ك" - And aSaimi and aSabiri are in the same state, same gender, and same in plurality. Another descriptive phrase.

In the explanation of the hadith, the author of Zad ut talibeen writes, the point of similarity between the two is that both acts are deserving of reward, even though the reward of the fasting person is surely greater.

Reflection 9 - Quran

A lot of Muslims in the sub-continent do not go through formal education of learning the Arabic language. As a result, when the Quran is recited in Salah or otherwise, they don't understand it.

Mufti Shafi Uthmani in his tafseer - Maariful Quran- explains the effect of reciting the Quranic words:

- The recitation and the reading of its words, even without understanding them, registers a positive effect on the human self. It helps its reciter to stay safe against evils of Kufr and Shirk.

- Whenever Quran has described the basic functions of the Holy Prophet, recitation (Tilawah) has been mentioned separately and ahead of the need to teach its meaning (3:164, 62:2). One of the tasks of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the recitation of the Quran - the Tilawah or Recitation is related to words.

- No doubt that the basic purpose of the Quran is to understand its meaning and act in accordance with it. The reciting of its [Quran] words too, brings about a distinct effect in the correcting and straightening of the human self, though in an invisible manner.

Related post: Reflection 1
Source: Maariful Quran-Mufti Shafi Usmani RA, Vol 5 Page 239

Reflection 8 - Favorite duas

1.
I love the dua how it sounds - easy to recite.

اللهُ أَكْبَـرُ كَبـيرا ، وَالْحَـمْدُ للهِ كَثـيرا ، وَسُبْـحانَ اللهِ بكْـرَةً وَأَصيـلا

Allah is Most Great, much praise is for Allah, and I declare the perfection of Allah in the early morning and in the late afternoon

Akbar and Kabeera have the same root. Akbar is already the superlative noun, kabeera again means "Most". This creates a double emphasis
Alhamd already means ALL praise (Al is for encompassing) and the masdar kaseera adds to the emphasis.

Sh Hamza of SunniPath explained -
"Subhan Allah" reminds us that we are intrinsically deficient, and Allah is intrinsically Perfect. This thought should lead to neediness and Reverence, and also to humility/ kushu'

The Prophet (Peace be upon him) taught us to say morning and evening, because that's when the angels change shifts, and at both times they witness us remembering Allah


2.

1. ‘O Allah, distance me from my sins just as You have distanced The East from The West,
2. O Allah, purify me of my sins as a white robe is purified of filth,
3. O Allah, cleanse me of my sins with snow, water, and ice.’


And this one's so deep.
1. We are asking Allah not just to forgive our past sins, but also keep us away - so we don't commit any sins in the future.
2. Our soul is a white sheet - each sin leaves a spot. We beg Allah to make it clean again.
3. Snow, water and ice - asking Allah to clean it over and over again - so it's completely clean. Imagine the fresh snow, when it first falls, there's nothing as white as that, or as pure. We ask Allah to make us that clean.

Reflections 7 - Shukr

وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ

yet most men are not grateful. 12:38

My mom's best friend from school is going through a difficult time. Her husband passed away a couple of years ago. (May Allah grant him maghfirah) She's a single mom to a son in university. Her only source of income is her rent from the basement. And for the last month, they haven't had any tenants. That means they'll have to adjust without the 9k they got as rent.

Alhamdulillah, she's quite educated. She used to teach kids at home. Her son complained that it affected his studies, so she decided to stop that as well. That again meant a large reduction in the income to run the house. But son's education comes first, right? Last month, she had to deposit the fees for her son's second year in university - and of all the money she collected from concerned friends and family, she was short by Rs 5000. She told my mom how she pawned her gold necklace for the loan. Can you imagine being that short on money?

Ammi asked her about clothes. Where do you buy them from? She mentioned they haven't bought new clothes for years. She wears whatever my aunt gives her, and my cousins are around the same age as the son - so he gets their clothes. When was the last time we bought new clothes? And we remembered to thank Allah for it?

She hasn't been feeling well either. Trips to the doctor's office are part of the normal routine. To her that's an additional expense. Can you imagine having second thoughts about going to the doctor? And thinking about how much you can save by cutting down medication?

And here's the hardest part: When the son was considering different schools - he debated between an expensive school and a regular one. His mom frankly told him that they won't be able to afford the expensive one. And he replied to her that if his dad was alive, he would have made sure his son went to the expensive school. Imagine how hurt the mom must have been? She has given up everything for her son. She prays day in and day out for her son.

Have we been thankful to our parents? Expressed the thankfulness in words, actions, or even by praying for them?

[The purpose of the post was reflection. Now I'm tempted to add a request to it: If anyone of you would like to help her out, please let me know. I'll personally make sure she gets the entire amount. Also let me know what you'd like to spend it towards - eid git/ son's education/ grocery]

Reflections 6 - recharging the fading spirits

When Ramadan starts, we are in full spirits. Listening to lectures on Ramadan, reciting Quran, extra nawafil, late night tahajjud, daily taraweeh salah and all sorts of righteous deeds. And our body starts feel to fatigue around the day 10. The recitation of the Quran decreases. The spirit of Ramadan is fading away. Ramadan becomes a norm. Slowly TV's start turing on.

@ this point a recap might help. Below are my notes from a lecture on Sacred Learning.

Encouraged (Masnoon) Acts during Ramadan

1. The Prophet spoke to his companions right before Ramadan starts. He reminded them of the blessing that's about to arrive. [this should remind us the importance of the month]

2. There's a blessing (barakah) in Suhoor. The suhoor of the Prophet saws was dates and water.

3. Rush towards fitr (iftar). Remember this is the time when we should make dua. We are asking Allah for the reward for the day's deeds

4. Feeding the fasting person. Another hadith says, the one who guides another to good, is like him doing that deed.

5. Theme of the Month is QURAN. We should increase our relationship with the Quran. [One recommended book is 'The Way to the Quran' by Khurram Murrad]

6. "Cut off which does not concern you": says the hadith.

7. Charity

8. Taraweeh

9. I'tekaaf

10. Celebration of Eid. The night before Eid is a valuable night for worship. The Sunnah is to wake up early, use the miswaak, and put on the best clothes and to eat a few dates before the Eid Salah.

11. Fasts of Shawwal

Purpose of fasting: taqwa. We hope to receive the reward for our fasts, but we should beg Allah to accept them.

Reflections 5

Day 11, Reflection 5. Got no excuse for falling behind. So many thoughts that I haven't been able to sort them out.

Three days ago, during the last few rakah of taraweeh, the imam started a certain surah. And I just didn't want him to stop reciting until he completed the entire story.

The story starts with a dream - a beautiful dream - of a beautiful child, and ends in the fulfillment of it. The story of a righteous young man. His brothers were jealous of him. Planned to get rid of him. And even did - so they thought. He was sold as a slave in the markets of Egypt. Then he fell victim to the attempted seduction by a great man's wife. When her evil plan was foiled, sent him to prison. He said I prefer prison to what they call me to. Subhan Allah, such taqwa.

And then, as per Allah's plan, he was appointment as the king's chief minister. All through, the father was tested by Allah - by the separation of his beloved son. But he was patient. Such strong Faith. At one point he said, I only complain of my grief to Allah!

Allah says "And Allah has full power and control over His Affairs, but most of men know not" 12:21. To some the events seem random, but Allah is reminding that everything happens for a reason. There's a wisdom behind it all. We should thank Allah in every situation. No matter how unfortunate it might seem.

Source:
Stories of the Prophets, Allama Ibn Kathir

(Purification - Salah) Ramadan Reflection 4

5:6 O YOU who have attained to faith! When you are about to pray, wash your face, and your hands and arms up to the elbows, and pass your [wet] hands lightly over your head, and [wash] your feet up to the ankles. And if you are in a state. requiring total ablution, purify yourselves.
But if you are ill, or are travelling, or have just satisfied a want of nature, or have cohabited with a woman, and can find no water-then take resort to pure dust, passing therewith lightly over your face and your hands. God does not want to impose any hardship on you, but wants to make you pure, and to bestow upon you the full measure of His blessings, so that you might have cause to be grateful.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلاةِ فاغْسِلُواْ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ وَامْسَحُواْ بِرُؤُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى الْكَعْبَينِ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًا فَاطَّهَّرُواْ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَى أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَاء أَحَدٌ مَّنكُم مِّنَ الْغَائِطِ أَوْ لاَمَسْتُمُ النِّسَاء فَلَمْ تَجِدُواْ مَاء فَتَيَمَّمُواْ صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا فَامْسَحُواْ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ مَا يُرِيدُ اللّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ وَلَـكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهَّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

I came across this verse 2-3 days ago, and a thought struck me. The ENTIRE procedure of purification - both wudu and tayammum is explained in the Quran. Salah isn't described step by step in the Quran. The first thought that comes to one's mind might be purification is very important. This rather emphasis the importance of other rituals - as for salah to be valid, one has to be pure. The verses stresses the importance of salah. It's a reminder to us that we should take purification seriously. It's a pre requisite for our worship to be valid. Salah is a pillar of Islam. The first question we'd be asked, we'd be accountable for is our salah.

Fortunately Humairah made my job easy by discussing the importance of salah further. Jazak Allah, Humairah. (Amazing how we didn't discuss our post ideas, and ended up with same thoughts. This is what I call ESP)

Ramadan Reflections 3

verse of the today - (and the timings' perfect):

الرِّجَالُ قَوَّامُونَ عَلَى النِّسَاء بِمَا فَضَّلَ اللّهُ بَعْضَهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ وَبِمَا أَنفَقُواْ مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ فَالصَّالِحَاتُ قَانِتَاتٌ حَافِظَاتٌ لِّلْغَيْبِ بِمَا حَفِظَ اللّهُ

Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard.

'enuf said :)

Ramadan Reflections 2

قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء


"O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer! 3:38



Yesterday I came across this verse. This is the dua made by Zachriya alayhis salam and result of it was the birth of Yahya alayhus salam. Reflecting on it, it occurred me - we underestimate the power of dua. Shaykh Hamza Karamali in the The Supplications of the Daily Prayer course reminded us of the same. He said, when we are in need, unfortunately we ask everyone around us for help. And if nothing works, we turn to Allah. Rather it should Allah, and Allah alone that we ask. We should remember that no one can benefit, unless Allah wills.


About our state in dua should be of "exhibiting our neediness and absolute slavehood to Allah, consigning one's matters to Allah, and knowing that the only one who gives or benefits is Allah Most High. With this, one should be certain that Allah Most High answers our duas, but in the way He knows is best for us." [The Prayer of Need - SunniPath Answers]


A beneficial talk on the etiquettes of dua is given by Yasir Qadhi called "Dua the Weapon of the Believer .

Ramadan Reflections 1

Humairah asked me to share my reflections. Well, my thinking isn't as deep as hers. Mine's just level one, and it stops there. Regardless I'll share my shallow reflections.

While reciting the quran today, I recalled a hadith I read in my favorite hadith book (Provisions for the Seeker - Zad ud talibeen):
القران’ حجّة’ للك او عليك
The Quran will either be evidence for you or against you

In the commentary it continues, "It is related from Abdullah ibn Masud that the Quran will appear on the Day of Judgment and will intercede for the one who read it and will then guide him into Paradise. On the contrary, the Quran will bear witness against the one who neglected it, and it will then drive him into the Hell fire"