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

The destroyer of desires ... a lesson for us all.

A few months ago, a dear sister and companion of mine gave me some heart-breaking and unexpected news... her dad was very ill and had been given a few months to live.

I remember when she told me, I felt somewhat numb and disturbed - why? - only once before had I been aware of someone being told that their precious time was slowly drifitng away; and that person (may Allah have mercy upon them, ameen) passed away within months. Thus to hear this again, I didn't quite know how to handle it, but for sure I was not going to let it pass me by without taking heed.

She sent me a message, over a month ago; a simple and yet profound reminder on the reality of death and the uncertainty of life. I could sense through the undertone of the message that something was not quite right... and a few days later, she sent out a message asking sisters to make du'a for her abu - her beloved dad - for he had returned to The Beloved (Swt), The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth... our Lord (Swt).

I sent a message of condolence, trying very hard to be as careful as possile with my choice of words. Though she and her sister kindly accepted and thanked me for 'my continuous du'as (supplications)', 'love and support', I knew there was nothing I could have done or said to take away her pain. [sigh]

What we forget is that we're all in the same boat. Each and every one of us is nearing towards our death, but whether we choose to accept it or not is another matter. The difference between us is that some have been given a wonderful gift - 'the gift of anticipation'. Though terminally ill servants of Allah (Swt) do not know the exact time or place of their death (though they're given some sort of 'indication'), they naturally begin to prepare for it, as they are constantly awaiting the inevitable. All they are reminded of its death, and though we too know we must meet the same fate, we assume ours will take place when we'r good and ready.

So I ask you . . . who is most certainly better off? We or they?

I read my dear companion's message on dealing with the death of her dad and as much as I tried to hold back my tears, they gushed forth like a riverbank... and she states:

"My family and I knew that this day would come, we tried to prepare, but we made a mistake of preparing alone at first. Sometimes we need others to help prepare us, not just for death but the journey towards it. I read a quote, not sure where, it read “We are not living, but dying slowly”… how true, how simple yet how easy to forget.

"My non Muslim friend asked me if I was angry! Never did that emotion come into my heart, although you do feel a wave of emotions filling your heart and soul, anger is not one of them. I think one of the reasons why it didn’t is because I had comfort in knowing that he has gone to a better place, there were many good signs of his end, and till this day there is still a source of comfort when I think back on those signs. All of us have to go one day, Allah saw it fit to take my daddy at this time. He gave me the best thing in the world, Allah gave me the best dad, in ways which no one but me will understand. When the time was right, when Allah knew I was able to handle it, He took my dad to the next stage of his life. My mum says it feels like he’s gone somewhere and we will see him soon. I replied and said that’s exactly what it is, he’s gone to Allah, his journey in this life has ended, but as for us, we still have travelling to do, how long that will take, we don’t know. That’s why we must take as much provisions and prepare as much as we can for death."

I can't envisage what she and her family must be going through, not even an atoms weight. I have never experienced death in my family, and though sisters often think that's a great blessing - yes, masha'Allah most certainly. However, I just can't help but think "the longer you grow with people the harder it becomes to say goodbye". When that time comes, by Allah (Swt) it'll be nothing but an absolute test of faith... and one that I pray, like my dear comapnion, I'll have the courage and strength to accept for the sake of my Lord (Swt), ameen.