The Sweetest Realisation

A dear companion of mine, sent me one of the most beautiful messages I've recieved in a very long time, mashaAllah. A week after returning to Saudi, I received this in my text message inbox:

"One of the Salaf said:

"The people of this world are deprived. They left this world without tatsing the sweetest thing in it!" It was asked of him: "And what is that?"

He said "love of Allah, knowing Him and remembering Him."

So love knowledge and constant remembrance of Allah; lean to Him (Swt); feel tranquil with Him; single Him out for love, fear, hope, dependence and attention; such that He (Swt) Alone, is the main preoccupation of your heart and goals; such that He (Swt) is your paradise and delight of this world - which none other can compare to - and such that He (Swt) remains the coolness of your eyes, love of your heart and life of your soul... for true life is for those, who know Him."

Now that's what I call a beautiful reminder, mashaAllah ;)

A Glowing Flame

Salaam and Peace to you all

Recently, I've been thinking about the epitamy of 'life' and the meaning of true happiness. Unlike many other aspects of life these are entities which do not have 'universal' definitions. So, with this in mind, I decided to look up the word 'happiness' in the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2nd ed).

It states: "Happiness - the feeling of being happy"

... hmm, not exactly what I had in mind...

If you were given a list of words from which to choose and describe happiness, which three would you choose?

For me, happiness is not a state of living, for it is neither material nor is it tangible, rather, I hold it as a state of being. For happiness lives in the heart, mind and soul; uncaptured by words or expressions; born of an untainted inner realisation, with an existence truly only known, not to the seeker of happiness, no, rather to the receiver of happiness.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab (rahimahullah) states, there are three signs of happiness: "Grateful when you are given, Patient when you are tested, Repentful when you are disobedient". [Taken from, 'The Four Principles of Shirk']

Undeniably, happiness is a thought that fills the mind, occassionally roaming the fields in search of - no, rather in need of - the sweet tasting seeds that once pollunated a weak heart. Enabling it to forever remain, as it once was...

a glowing flame shielded from the harsh winds of life.

An unspoken belonging: a silent reflection

The blessing that once descended, A mercy uncomprehended, The unknown divine yearning, I long to capture the occasion.

A moment of contemplation, An hour of relocation, A glimpse of a belonging, I yearn to capture the occasion.

A favour of inspiration, A gift of realisation, An unspoken grace... I have captured the sensation.

Here and Now...

When I first arrived in Saudi Arabia, the 'culture shock' (that many took the liberty of kindly informing me about) was something I quickly adjusted to -alhamdulillah. Having resided here for three and a half months now, I can honestly say, I've only just begun to really appreciate the significant difference between my previous home and my present one, alhamdulillah.

The most difficult experience I've had to deal with since moving abroad, has been the absence of family members and, that of dear companions. It's not easy, no one ever said it would be, however with the grace and mercy of my Beloved (Subhaanahu wa ta'ala) it will become easier, insha'Allah. I've always considered myself to be someone that just simply 'gets on with it', despite where I am and what I'm having to deal with. And though I still somewhat consider this to be the case, I must admit: new environments; new people; new situations and everything that comes along with it, beckons a new discovery - the latest true self.

It might sound ironic but it's very easy to assume we know who we are. If you were to ponder this and truly assess the 'true you' - known only to Allah (Suhaanahu wa ta'ala) - the tested you, what would you fiind? For me, having to adjust to a new environment and 'find myself' - yet again - drew me to some home truths, enabling me to comprehend I was merely travelling along discovering small 'sheltered glimpses' of whom and what Allah had trained me to be.

A couple of weeks ago, during my visit to London, I met up with a couple of companions, an opportunity to 'catch - up' and enjoy one another's company once again, alhamdulillah. Sitting amongst them in their beautiful company was, and has always been, a gift from Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta'ala). If I could, I would have stayed with them the whole night through. . .

Yes, my heart still longs for my beloved family; dear friends and even London itself - for the very place in which my Lord chose for me to be 'directed', 'guided' and where my affairs were beautifully facilitated, will always have its unique place in my heart.

Here and now, this is me; my life; my world; my discoveries... until this temporary abode directs me to my final one, insha'Allah.

Hikmatullaah - Al Hakeem: The Wisdom of Allah - The Wise

The situation of our sisters and brothers in Philistine has completely overwhelmed me… Across Saudi Arabia, sisters and brothers are sending awareness of the reality of the situation by informing others about companies, from the west, that need to be boycotted in every shape, manner and form. This is coupled with the active participation from university students, flocking together to donate countless of money towards their suffering families in Gaza.

I've contemplated this inconceivable reality during sleepless nights; reflected upon it; pondered over it; questioned... questioned... and questioned some more. My questioning is not of the situation, but rather of my own actions. ‘How am I, a supposed 'Muslim' behaving in the sight of Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta'ala)?’ ‘What does my Lord, azza wa jal, want me to learn from this devastating situation, all of which is under His control?’ and ‘Am I really doing enough?’ As these questions continued to overflow, I suddenly remembered a very beautiful reminder I heard at a sisters' circle last week: situations occur as a means of testing people, thus though such events may not directly be linked to individuals, their final destination in the Aakhirah may very well depend upon it.

"When I wake up, I do not care what happens to me; whether it is good for me or bad for me, for I neither know whether it is good or bad. [And I trust in the decree of my Lord (Swt)]."

[A saying attributed to Umar ibn al-Khattab (radiAllahu anhu)]

As we continue to discuss this heartbreaking reality; make sincere du’a; collect countless of money in donations and shed heart-felt tears like never before, let us not forget... those that have passed us by - dying in the name of Islam have met their destiny, completed their tests and returned to Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’ala)… For surely to Jannah are its inhabitants. The enemies have our Lord to answer to, their evil deeds to account for, Allah (Subhaanahu wa ta’ala) to face… And surely to Jahannam are its inhabitants.

For those of us that are left watching… reflecting… pondering … and questioning, let us be reminded that our Lord (Subhaanahu wa ta'ala) Sees and Knows ALL things. Thus, just as hardships may elevate a people and abase others, they are also an unequivocal means of testing others… those that are left behind.

"You may like a thing that is bad for you, and dislike a thing that is good for you, Allah Knows and you know not."

[Surah Al-Baqarah (2):216]

May Ar-Rahman aid the believers in passing this test by running to the aid of our sisters and brothers, as a means of seeking Allah’s pleasure, ameen.

Yaa Al-'Afuww shower Your forgiveness upon our sisters and brothers of Philistine, ameen. Yaa Rabbi grant them Your peace, security and refuge for truly You are As-Salam; Al-Muhaymin. Yaa Rabbi, grant our sisters and brothers refuge from Your Punishment, for verily You are Al-Jabbar. Yaa Al-Qadir, make for them a way out of their sufferings and deal with our enemies in the way that they deserve, ameen.

“Allahumma munzilal-kitaabi, saree’al-hisaab, ihzimil-ahzaaba. Allahumma ihzimhum wa zalzilhum”.

Ameen.

“Oh Allah, Revealer of the book, Swift to account, defeat the groups. O Allah defeat them and shake them”. Ameen [Imam Muslim(rahimahullah)]

Ameen Allahumma, ameen.

“Oh Allah You are Mightier than Your creation, there is none worthy of worship but You”. [Imam Bukhaari(rahimahullah)]

"Subhaanahka Allahumma wa bihamdika, ashadu alaa ilaha illa anta, wa astagfirooka wa atoobu ilayk."

"Glory be to You Oh Allah, I bear witness there is no god but You, and I seek Your Forgiveness and turn repentant to you."

The eyes may cry and the heart may feel sadness, but the tongue does not utter anything displeasing to Allah...

With du'a as our weapon and Al-Qawiyy (The Most Strong) as our Protector, who and what else could we possibly need? Alhamdulillah.