A Blessed 'little' act of Spontaneous Kindness

Alhamdulillah, another sacred day... one blessed year on. Having arrived in London yesterday morning, I had mixed feelings at the thought of travelling to a place – during this special time of year – other than that of the Sacred House. استغفرالله, I don’t want to sound ungrateful, at least I was having a holiday… right? Well, to be perfectly honest, I would have preferred to have remained in Saudi for the Hajj holiday if I knew my doing so would mean a visit to Makkah, but that, I knew, would not be possible this year. الحمدالله رب العالمين, it has been exactly a year since performing the greatest journey I’ve experienced to date. Now, watching my fellow sisters and brothers on this precious Day of 'Arafah, fulfilling their dream of visiting the Sacred House, fills with me immense happiness for them, and gratitude for having completed my own this time last year. سبحان الله , I am a ‘حاجه’ (the name attributed to one after having performed Hajj) – I, by the grace of Allah, have performed and, with hope, fulfilled the fifth pillar of my deen, والحمدالله.

For all the fortunate sisters and brothers performing this great deed this year, may it truly be a Hajj Mabroor for each and everyone one of you, ameen. And for the rest of us, gazing with hope and yearning hearts, may the sincerity of what we harbour be proof enough of our sincere love to follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). Bi-ithnillaah our time will come (again) soon, ameen, for verily with sabr comes the very best of rewards, inshaAllah.

“The planning of The Almighty (Allaah) is better for you than your own planning, and it could be that He deprives you from what you ask to test your patience. So let Him see from you a determined patience and you will soon see from Him what will give you joy…” (I received this very beautiful message yesterday, but do not know who sent it. May Allah reward the sister greatly, ameen).

As our fortunate sisters and brothers accept the greatest of all invitations to visit the House of their Lord(Swt), let us too accept the gift of Allah (Swt) by performing good deeds for His Sake Alone. So, as we enjoy the last of the most sacred 'days' before the end of the 1431 Hijri calendar, allow me to add one more 'liitle' act of 'ibaadah to your blessed scales inshaAllah.

***Think ahead to Tues morning, inshaAllah. You’ve completed the ‘Eid salaah, listened to the beneficial khutbah and are about to walk out of the masjid when… a sister, you’ve never seen before, approaches you, and with a beautiful smile she shakes your hand and gives you something… a gift on the blessed day of ‘Eid***

A few nights ago, as a dearly beloved companion of mine travelled from Riyadh to Jeddah on her way to celebrate ‘Eid with her family in London, she sent me a message – she had just thought of an excellent idea and wanted to share the blessings, ماشاالله . She thought it would be a good idea to purchase several copies of the “Fortress of a Muslim” book to give out tomorrow morning (Tuesday 16th Nov) after the ‘Eid salaah as spontaneous ‘Eid gifts.

سبحان الله, what a beautiful and fantastic act of ‘ibaadah! So, just as she shared this gift with me, I too have shared it with you…

(For more ideas of 'liitle' 'Eid presents to gift fellow Muslims with on the day of 'Eid, visit Darussalam bookshop situated in Central Masjid -Regents park: (tel) 020 7725 2246 or Walthamstow branch - (tel) 020 8520-2666.)

Have a great ‘Eid… تقبل الله من و منكم – May Allah accept it from you and us, ameen.

والسلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

'Only YOU Will Do'

When my soul feels stranded with none in sight, I turn to You Alone

When my heart feels empty with doubts in mind, I long to be with the unknown

When I fear to hear the unsettling silence, I hasten to call out to You

My Beloved of all do not abandon me,

For I know that Only You will do…

When my heart feels heavy, burdened with sins I‘m too ashamed to acknowledge Your Presence

When the days become cold, and the nights far too dark I reluctantly turn my gaze to the heavens

My Gracious Lord, You see my yearning heart And how desperately I turn to You

So my Beloved of all Please forgive my wrongs, For I know now - Only You Will do.

'It's been a While' - Poetry

It's been a while

I can't recall how long

But, the echoes of my inner thoughts

Continue to stumble on.

With a heart at peace

And a mind at rest

The echoes of my inner thoughts

Continue to race ahead.

No longer questioning

Where destiny lies

The echoes of inner thoughts

Create tears in my eyes.

Free of worries

And free of pains

The echoes of inner peace

Is now where my heart remains...

©May2010 Umm Thameenah

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.