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Some lovely Ramadan Reminders II

Started by Jannah, September 14, 2007, 04:12:29 AM

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Jannah



Since these were popular last year, I'd like to share this year's short reminders of our Imam during this blessed month iA :) Please excuse any mistakes in conveyance and keep me in ur duas!!




Jannah

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem

This is the first day of Ramadan. I pray you all have desire for Ramadan more than ever before and increase in your desire to do what is beloved to Him.

This is month of Quran, I advise you to read a lot of the Quran and ponder on the meanings. Many of the righteous completed the Quran in 3 days and in some reports in 1 day! We invoke Allah to focus our hearts on Him and not on ourselves, our ego, our desires or superfluous attractions of this Dunya.

I advise you and myself as we break our fast of Iftar to eat very moderately. If we want to benefit in our Ibadah, Tarweeh and Dhikr, we should not eat more than before Ramadan! This is not a month to celebrate eating like it is in our Muslim countries and in some places where we are. It is to teach us that there is happiness besides eating, joy outside the usual pleasures of Dunya and that there is pleasure in Quran and connecting spiritually with Allah.

As we have Iftar the Sunnah of our Rasul [saw], the Imum and the Salihoon is that they eat very, very little, moderately and then maybe after Salah they have a sort of dinner or Suhoor, still moderately. The point is to remember that Ramadan is not about eating more, not about more Dunya. It's about less of that so we discover the joy of the qalb. So I advise us to keep mindful of that. May Allah reward those that feed the needy and poor but the way we eat must be in such a way that we don't come bored, lazy, without presence of our quloob in our salah and are in a hurry to leave.

In Taraweeh there is nothing deterministic in exactly how it is done, but our ancestor models (and we are far from them), when they finish Taraweeh after Isha they just barely had time to have Suhoor. These are authentic reports. Sometimes they read Baqarah. They didn't have to read one Juzz. We don't have to read a Juzz, whatever we read is Khair. The way they read it is not fast. The Ruku, Sujood is not fast. It is later that many of the Ulema, because we have not been as spiritually committed and energetic, said we are going to have more Rakaat and more Quran and later on less Quran and more Rakat. And we complain when it's more than 20 minutes or half an hour, we feel that it is too long! SubhanaAllah.

May Allah inject in our Quloob the Mahabba of his Ibadah. Salah is the M'eraj of the Mumin. It is a means of transport of the believer, spiritual ascension. When we are in Salah we don't want to leave Salah, but if our Quloob aren't there we want to leave as soon as possible. May Allah impress Hubb and delight for Salah in our Quloobs.

Let's do our best to remember the beautiful virtues and Akhlaq Allah loves us to be characterized with. Let's watch our internal moods and internal Khuluq, our internal image. Let's this month exert more struggle against our Nufoos and through Dua, Dhikr, Salah and Tilawatul Quran. Let's work on improving our inner beings and not forget a lot of Dua, a lot of Dua, supplication and invocation to Allah [swt] to help us do that.

***

In this first surah, Baqarah is the story of Adam [as]. This is reminding us that our home is in Jannah and that we are all trying to get back home. The rest of the Quran then is the manual or story on how to come back home. We need to read it at night so that we know how to get back home. Let's carefully listen throughout this month, keep on this path and not deviate until we arrive home.



[sbh] [alhamd] [allahuakbar] [sbh] [alhamd] [allahuakbar] [sbh] [alhamd] [allahuakbar]

Jannah

#2
Bismillah....

There are multitudes of pearls in the Quran, especially in Surah Baqarah that we are reciting. It would certainly take a long while to share these meaningful pearls. As we are confined with time, we will only mention a few to give a glimpse of those pearls.

Allah tells us in Surah Baqara (in the context of traveling and journeying to Hajj) to take what we need of provisions and sustenance with us as people who travel. Allah says '...Have provision, and the best of provision in the journey is Taqwa'.  This is in the context of life, inside the concept of a journey to Hajj. In our journey in this Dunya for Akhirah we need Taqwa! We shouldn't be obsessed by provisions for Dunya. Most of us human beings seem to be so obsessed with this provision -- saving as though when we die we'll take it with us, or that we won't leave enough for our families. We're so obsessed with that. We are jailed by that concept instead of taking care of our provision for Akhirah, meaning being mindful of Allah, doing our best in our lives, minute by minute, second by second, living in a state of mindfulness, awareness and consciousness of Allah, changing the way we feel inside and consequently the way we behave outside, being aware of how we look, how we walk, how we use our tongue, our legs, our intelligence, our individuality. Being aware of Allah, this mindfulness in a state of Taqwa is the provision we should take with us through Dunya.

Allah later on says, 'It was made attractive, beautiful and alluring to the non-believers: Dunya (wealth and power). It was ornamented, made alluring, so you find those human beings so enamored and in love with Dunya and so attached to it. They would do anything and everything to keep it, even if lives have to be lost or taken in pursuit of that, even lives of entire populations, peoples, and nations. This all starts at the individual level.

We also find some of us Muslims enamored by the external shell of this Dunya, and yet this is a Siffah (characteristic) of those who do not have Imaan! Those who are like that ridicule and look down upon those who have Imaan and live simple lives of Kanaa (contentment) instead of lives obsessed with the elements of Dunya. They are belittled like they're nothing and others act with Kibr (arrogance) and Ghuroor (delusion) towards them. Many of us who are rich and powerful look down upon those that don't have this shallow possession. Suddenly we feel very special. Not even knowledge is respected let alone faith which used to be looked up at.

For those who are enriched with Imaan, those who ridicule us should not hurt us. If we have Imaan we don't mind, we know they don't know. We know we have a lot more than they do. If we don't have Imaan we can be lured by them and be like those who saw Qaroon. The believers among Musa [as] saw powerful rich Qaroon. They said, 'Oh this is great I wish we had what he had. That man is lucky, successful' . And Allah said, 'Woe on you, what are you talking about, what Allah has in store, the reward of Allah, is much greater!'

Those who have, ridicule those that don't have, the powerful ridicule the weak, and yet it is Allah who provides for all! It's Allah who gives to the rich and to the poor, the good person, believer, and non-believer, whatever they have. No matter how prosperous it's Allah who gave them. One is not better than the other for having. Allah gives who he pleases, but one is deprived from internal awareness of Allah. What a difference that is!

We should be simple travelers in this world. We're not going to be here forever. It's a very short time. All of us have some experience that this life is so very short. It was just yesterday some of us came to this country and it's 30 years ago! Like yesterday you were a child, it's so fast. 60 years, 70 years what are they now. The time when death approaches us this life will seem so short. Some of us already see it. Those that Allah graced with the awareness of Akhirah he makes them, young or old, aware of this fact very early on. They live their life as travelers and travelers need provision and that provision is Taqwa, more Sawm, Salah, Dhikr, Sadaqah, Ibadah, Sabr, forgiveness, kindness, magnanimity, and more of the Qalb being with Allah, daily minute by minute being conscious of Allah

May Allah grant us that consciousness and the provision of Taqwa. May He not leave us to our obsession for the elements of this Dunya. Ameen

***
Side note: Taraweeh is called that from "Raha" meaning to rest, because after every 2 Rakats the Sahabah would rest for Dua and Dhikr. Take the time when you pray for Tahlil and Dhikr for a little while.


[alhamd] [allahuakbar] [sbh] [alhamd] [allahuakbar]

Jannah

#3
Bismillah...

Every ayah in the Quran is a miracle if our hearts are clean, and the cleaner our hearts are the more we can see the beauty of these pearls.

Allah says in the Quran 'O you who have attained faith, spend of that which is pure that you own'. In the Ayah before that Allah says, 'O you who have attained faith, spend from that which we have bestowed upon you'. Pure is left out of the second one because what comes from Allah is always pure and beautiful, but what we earn as a result of our work and effort, some of that could be Khabeeth (vile, evil, impure and haram). For we, some of us, earn our livelihoods in ways that are not pure, so Allah says when we spend, spend from what is pure of it. Pure of what you own and earn means the best of that you earn, not just which is Halal and you want to discard. Don't go and give that which is impure and you yourselves wouldn't take it if it was given to you! You wouldn't even want to see it, you'd close your eyes. And you give this to God, to Allah!

It's a metaphor so when we give to the needy and the poor, we are "giving to God", not that Allah needs that, but Allah associates giving to Him as Sadaqah, so it must be among the best, not the things we don't want when it comes to food, vegetables, fruits, clothing, furniture, etc.

Your wife says, 'I don't want this, let's give this to someone who needs it'. That should not be the attitude, you should pick the one you like and want to keep. The Salihoon used to look at their things and the things they wanted to keep forever, the best things, they gave it so it's kept with Allah as reward FOREVER.

You shall not attain a state of Birr (be a truly good person) until you spend and give of that which you love. You love to keep it and don't want to give it. Allah also enjoins us to eat that which is Tayyib and we should give that which is Tayyib.

Ya Allah, cleanse us and purify us from the miserliness and greed of our own selves so that we truly see you with our hearts and give in your behalf that which is most beloved to us.

*************************

Side NOTE:
We say Astaghfirullah 3xs after our Rakats. Saying Astaghfirullah is an act of Ibadah, not just the tip of the tongue. We shouldn't say AstaghfAllahAAllahAstaAllah...so fast! We should say it for the things we know of, and those that we don't know of. Say Astaghfirullah from your heart.



[alhamd] [sbh] [allahuakbar] [alhamd] [sbh] [allahuakbar]

Jannah

#4
Bismillah...

Of the many gems, Ayahs of the Quran of light. I pick one of them:

"O you who have gained faith, do not consume Ribaa (usury), be Allah–conscious so that you may be happy and succeed in this life in the right way. And guard yourselves against the fire of Hell prepared for those who reject faith [and reject Allah and Rasulullah]. Consuming Ribaa is doing like those who rejected Allah and Rasulullah [saw].

"And therefore obey Allah and obey the messenger that you may be granted loving mercy from Allah." And those who consume Ribaa are not obeying Allah and Rasulullah and therefore are depriving themselves of the Rahmaa (loving mercy) of Allah, the special kind of it, for Allah gives Rahmaa to all His creatures. Special Rahmaa He gives to those who obey Him and the Rasul [saw].

"Therefore race, compete for forgiveness from your Lord and for Jannah the width of which is the heavens and the earth."
This is something beyond understanding and comprehension. The width of 15 billion light years is the width of this universe. It takes light to travel from one part to the other 15 billion years. What about the full dimensions of Jannah, all the Samaawat, heavens, space-time, dimensions! 15 billion light years is just this universe, this physical 4 dimensional universe of ours.

"Prepared for those who are Allah-conscious, who guard [their hearts, senses, minds, and limbs from disobeying Allah]". (For example in consuming Ribaa).

"Those who spend that which is Tayyib whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger" As we mentioned before, they spend in charitable causes, in humane causes, whether they are prosperous or whether they are in adversity, in need or well-to-do, wealthy or in poverty, whether they are sick or healthy, strong or weak. And those who restrain anger, they are not vindictive, If they become angry on account of something that happened in their personal life, they restrain anger and don't allow it to be expressed outside. A wife towards her husband, vice versa, towards children, towards friends. We restrain our anger.

"And those who forgive the wrong that is done to them."
And truly Allah loves those are Muhsinoon and generous in the way they behave to others.


****
The most beloved Ibadah to Allah is Salah. Let us try to focus our minds and hearts inside of Salah. Let's be aware Allah is watching every movement of our hearts, every second, every moment. If we continue to do that and there is a desire for that, then Allah will give us the fruits. Salah will become the most delightful of things and we will not want to leave it. Keep focusing in Salah. And be aware Allah is listening inside of us, aware of what's inside of us and not allow distractions and emotions that are not consistent with the very spirit of Salah to take over. Aktharu bi Dua in Sujood. Make much Dua in Sujood for the Dua, inshaAllah, is Mustajaab (accepted)!



[allahuakbar] [alhamd] [sbh]

Jannah

#5
Bismillah...

From Surah Nisa, some pearls from the many many pearls that are scattered throughout the Quran:

"Verily God commands you to deliver the trust to their owners."


The first thing that comes to peoples minds is a possession someone has entrusted with us. We have to deliver that back according to the agreement between us. We do not deny we have it or steal it, we do not neglect it, misuse it, or abuse it. We should protect that trust and deliver that trust in the way it was given to us. Also the concept of trust in this Ayah is much more comprehensive than this. Allah [swt] has entrusted us with so much . WE are a trust and we belong to Him. The way we shall use our minds, our eyes, our ears, our stomachs, our sexual organs. Each one and more are a trust with us that we have to deliver ultimately to their owner. Who's their owner? Allah [swt]

So while we're living in this world they are a trust. I must keep the trust and give it back. That's why the Salihoon when they describe someone dying they say 'and they delivered their trust to their Owner'.  When I called my paternal uncle who just recently died, his son described it. My uncle ma'shaAllah lived over 100 years of age and lived a life of Quran and teaching others. He woke in the middle of the night and asked his son to help him perform Wudu and pray, then layed down. After a while when the son came, my uncle told him 'Im dying'.  And then the son continued the description and said .. "and Allah took his Amanah". It's a beautiful realization. Hopefully when we say this we are aware of it. We are given a trust by Allah.

******

A reminder to myself and to all of us. Ibadah, devotion to God, worship in its reality and Haqiqah is a devotion of the Qalb and thus let us never forget to make efforts to feel our hearts aware of what we say.. Allahu akbar, SamiAllah liman hamidah, Subhana rabbial ala.. Astaghfirullah, Allahumma antas salam... Let us try to feel what those words mean to us and make efforts when we say those words. We intend what they mean and also in our external appearance, the way we sit and so on, is in a state where we show reverence to Allah [swt]. We show respect and reverence to this moment that Allah has graced us to be in front of Him in Salah.

Remember to rectify and re-orient our Niyyah and ask Allah to focus in Salah and let our Quloobs be focused and not allow ourselves to be distracted and entertain other thoughts other than thought of being watched by Allah [swt].

After Salah we say, "Allahumma anta Salaam..." This is because he or she experiences something really beautiful in Salah and then outside of Salah. He or she exepriences divine nearness and peace and then when finished exclaims 'O Allah you ARE peace. I have experienced it and felt it.'

May Allah make us of those who experience divine nearness in Salah so peace inside of us and outside of us.


[allahuakbar] [alhamd] [sbh] [alhamd] [allahuakbar] [sbh]

Jannah

#6
Bismillah...

A reminder to myself and all of us. 'Reminders do benefit those who have Faith'. May Allah help us be of those who do benefit.

Allah towards the end of Surah Nisa again reminds us by telling us we have to uphold fairness, equity and justice under all circumstances, even against our own selves, our own parents or our own relatives and to be witnesses to Allah in the same way.

In the beginning of Surah Ma'ida, Allah says to us, 'O you have attained faith, fulfill your words, contracts and agreements'. It is Haram to agree with another party on doing or delivering something (as long as it's not evil or prohibited) and then we don't fulfill it.

The believers are always upholders of their word. Surely many people don't and that's a sign or characteristic of Nifaq or Kufr.

In the same Surah a few lines after in the same context it says don't let the fact of all what those who are tyrannical, oppressors, killers, amongst the pagan Qurayshites did to you, make you do wrong. Even though they did all of that to you and prevented you from entering Masjid al Haram peacefully, that is not reason for you to do wrong to them or anything unjust to them. Instead, help each other and participate in all that is mutual, good and righteous. Anything that is virtuous and righteous that is done by other parties, do take part in it, and help in it. But don't take part in aggression, wrong, immorality. Do not take part in any activity, agreement, work or actions that are transgression, injustice and that are harm and wrong. Fear Allah; be conscious of Allah, verily Allah is severe in punishment.

In other words if you don't apply this and ignore this in our personal, family, community, societal, national, international lives, Allah is severe in punishment. Allah punishes in so many ways. Ways that we some of us don't even relate to Allah's Anger. Later Allah emphasizes that in a different way. 'Be steadfast for Allah and witnesses for justice and do not let the injustices to you, cause you to do injustices to them'. Do justice, justice is evidence to piety and it will bring us clearer and nearer to Allah [swt].

We ask Allah to be of those who hear His words and understand His words and internalize, actualize and practice them in our lives. And we ask Allah to forgive us in that which we don't know or forgot and to give us the energy and strength to act upon that which we know is right. And give us strength inside of us in moments of weakness when we need it most. Ameen.

********

We hear the Quran, we hear the words, we repeat them, we share them, we teach them and then when there are conflicts, misunderstandings, disagreements in communities, you have people that turn against one another and each other in ways that are ugly, not even compassionate, not just, each side is pulled to their side. There is no forgiveness, 'Adl, ihsan, patience! It happens all the time in communities and also at individual and family levels. Let's ask Allah to internalize this principle and actualize it when we need it the most. It's easy to say it, but each one defends their own wrongfulness when the moment comes. If the arbitrator doesn't do what one likes, "I don't accept it" etc...

May Allah [swt] help us internalize this. Reading, teaching etc is not enough if we don't work to internalize it. We just take it for granted and then it's not in the Qalb and when we are faced with a real situation we act in ways that are not Khair. May Allah guide us and help us all.

[sbh] [sbh] [sbh] [alhamd] [alhamd] [alhamd] [allahuakbar] [allahuakbar] [allahuakbar]

Jannah

#7
Bismillah...


Ya Allah we implore you to collect our hearts on Your love and on Your obedience.

Suratul Anam we have begun tonight and we will finish tomorrow, is one of the many gems, diamonds and pearls of the Quran. Suratul Anam all of it is said (3 ahzab almost 1 juzz and ½ ) was revealed in totality to Rasulullah (s) . So that so many Mala'ikah (angels) were celebrating the revelation of this Surah to the lower world.

Suratul Anam is truly THE Surah of Tawheed.
Tawheed from the beginning to the end, Taweed Ar-Rububiya, Tawheed Al-Uluhiya and Tawheed Al-Asma was Safaat.

Thus the importance of the Tawheed of Allah is that is that we LIVE in Tawheed of Allah.
Most importantly my dear brothers and sisters the concept of Tawheed is not something mental or intellectual, something just in our heads. I would like us to know Tawheed as a state of the Qalb, as the Qalb is emotional and becomes involved and attached to Allah. The Qalb becomes involved in knowing that Allah is Unique in the way He is. The Qalb becomes involved with the fact that Allah is the RABB.

Then, that through His Names and Attributes, He (swt) is in control of all that is outside of Him in the creation, physical things, emotions, social things, personal things, collective things, mental things, feelings nothing in this universe escapes the knowledge, control and will of Allah (swt). Therefore what happens to me as an individual, each one of us should see every second is under the control of Allah (swt). What is inside of me of cells and atoms and particles all of which is under the control of Allah, also my emotions, thoughts, feelings all of that is in the knowledge of Allah. Allah knows it and is in control of it.

Thus when I am in that state of Rububiyah the next thing comes, Tawheed Uluhiyah. The more I become aware of that the more I surrender lovingly to Allah. I surrender in every aspect of life to Allah. The more I know of that the more my surrender, and the less I know, the less surrender. Therefore ignorance is not bliss. The more I know of Allah in His Tawheed the more I shall surrender lovingly to Allah (swt). In consequence my character Khuluq shall change.

See how Surah al- Anam is THE Surah of Tawheed, so BEAUTIFUL! Yet those of us memorizing Quran, would say was it easy to memorize? In the beginning one of the most difficult Surahs to memorize. Because our awareness, our spiritual awareness was not there, or enough. Once that somehow comes in the Qalb it's the easiest Surah to memorize and remember.

Tawheed of Allah [az]. How beautiful and profound it is when Allah says:
   "To him belong the keys of the unseen ...and none belong except to him, whatever is on the earth and all the seas. And not a leaf falls that is not in His knowledge."

SubhanAllah ya Allah how beautiful! How powerful especially if you read it in that Quranic language. To be truly be infused by that divine meaning you have got to read it in those own words and meanings of Allah [swt].

A leaf!! A leaf ya Rabb. How many leaves fall in the world, how they fall, where they fall, their trajectory, their shape. He created them all, He knows of that.

"There is nothing inside the darkness in the earth, a seed nothing that He does not know about, nor anything moist or dry." Even the moisture, the tears in your eyes. Think of things moist, all of which are in His knowledge now and "it has always been in a clear record". He knows of things like that, what about ME how much does He know about me. It is clear He knows the innermost depths of me, each one of us. He made Himself known to us the more we delve into these meanings of Asma was-Saffat. The more we know that, the more we shall love Him. The more we shall have no choice but to accept Allah. 

Allah says don't be like those who keep away from this and they're deluded by Dunya. They give away everything Allah has and go to Dunya. Keep away from those who take their religion not seriously, as game, jest, and entertainment. They were deluded and deceived by the glamour of this world. KEEP away and be with those who are with Allah [az]. And who remember Him and keep Him.

May Allah help us be of those who always seek to know Him and attach our Quloob to Him.

At-Taweed, At-Taweed , At-Tawheed.

One equation, Scientists are looking for ONE EQUATION. What is this theory called? It's called the UNIFICATION theory. The unification of Tawheed~! They were not thinking of this but look at this Allah led them to this!

Tawheed is the gatherer of everything. From Tawheed comes everything that is Khair. Let us seek Tawheed and beg Allah sincerely to give us hearts that heed Him.

******

Reminders are helpful to those who have Imaan and I remind myself first. Again, let us get used to struggle and make efforts to rectify our Niyyah, our intention so our Qalb is focused the right way and we should ignore and reject all other thoughts and distractions. Allah [swt] is watching us and also ponder the meanings of what is recited InshaAllah.



[sbh] [sbh] [sbh] [sbh]

Jannah

#8
Bismillah...

Ya Allah collect and bring our hearts together upon You. And keep away from us any such things that distract our hearts away from You. And keep us and our hearts away from such things.

Allah tells us of the essentials of the story of the human being in the early genesis creation of the human being. This includes the story of Adam and Hawwa and the concept of the existence of Shaitan as a creation of Allah endowed, as far as we're concerned, with sometimes mysterious abilities and powers as a means to challenge and test us. This is a means by which Allah knows who amongst us truly wants Him and seeks Him and who amongst us is not truthful in that.

Then He tells us what Shaitan did and when he lured and deceived our father and more, if you will 'us', and thus had to leave Jannah and the deception he used in Surah Aa'raf. The logic with which he approached them is a logic of Dunya, a logic of wealth and power. He said to them, 'You know if you eat from this tree, you will have sovereignty and power. If you don't eat from this you won't be the two sovereign, angelic ones. And if you eat from this you will be living forever with this power.'

SubhanAllah. What a powerful wonderful story! And then Allah says to us in the end, 'O children of Adam, don't allow Shaitan to lure you and deceive you as he did to your parents and caused them to leave Jannah'. Shaitan caused them to be away from the divine nearness and presence. Don't let him do that to you also. That in this Dunya you have all the Halal of this Dunya; don't approach the tree of Haram. It's the same story. Some of us say, 'Oh if I was in Jannah I would not have succumbed to Shaitan and if God told me this, I wouldn't do that and disobey God!' But look we are not in Jannah, but in Dunya, and in Dunya Allah says ALL is Halal for you, except don't approach one tree... the tree of Haram. And if you eat from the tree of Haram you would have fallen like your father and mother.

Therefore what is the result? You will leave. I will keep you away from Me. The Haram of eating, Haram of drinking, the Haram of social behavior, the Haram of our words, what we harbor inside of us, thoughts and feelings we entertain in secrecy, privacy and in public... that's the tree that Allah tells us not to approach! Ya bani adam... when I read this it's so compassionate. I feel sorry to read this so fast in recitation. Many people have to work and many people feel it's late and sometimes I have to read fast I don't know if you think that I do, but I feel that. Some verses overwhelm you; you fall in tears, such a loving compassionate call from Allah... O bani adam...

May Allah help us be aware of that, help us to read the words, His words, that He shared with Adam and Hawwa. May He give us strength and not to fall like those who have fallen and never return. May He, if we fumble, give us the strength to walk towards Him in the path, and begin to inside of us disengage from the attachments that you and I have built:  the, luring, dangerous, attractions, liaisons of this Dunya.

How long will we live?

How long will we live?

How long... do most of us have left to live? How old are you... 40. 50 , 60, for most of us, we have less than what we have lived! Are we thinking of the ultimate encounter with Allah (swt). Are we trying and struggling to live in this Dunya as true travelers or are we completely forgetting that, denying that and wanting to forget that. Deluded by the external appearance and shallow attraction of this Dunya.

We have to go.

We have to go.

May Allah put in our Quloob this awareness. May we live in this Dunya so productively that we never forget this is only transitional. This is not our real home. Home is where we started and home is where we want to go back home.

And we want to go back home

Let us not be like those deluded by Shaitan and want to stay here as for ever and will not.

This is the story of one of the powerful beautiful lessons in Surah Aa'raf.



By the way, sometimes we stay here late, we might have an idea of what Rasulullah (s) used to feel during Qiyam. Do some of us feel tired? The Rakah we pray is just basically 2 ½ pages each Rakat. The last 4 rakat is just 1 page. We read total 1 juzz. Now imagine the standing of Rasulullah, reading in one Rakah, reading Surah Baqarah.... and Surah Nisa... and Anam with his type of Rukou and Sujood... I mean just imagine that. So when we feel tired, let us remember him let us be disciples of Rasulullah, in his footsteps. I want to be the like, the like, the like of Rasulullah. And that gives us energy. And that gives us strength. InshaAllah.


[ia] [ia] [ia] [ia] [ia]

Jannah

Bismillah...

A brief reminder and a reflection on some of the wonderful gifts of Allah (swt) from the Quran to share with you:

At the very end of Surah A'araf Allah [swt] [az] tells us:
"When the Quran is recited, listen to it and hear it." Not only listen... in other words, pay attention and hear. Istamau' not only hear, but exert an effort and focus to listen. So if we are in Salah and we hear the Quran and maybe our Nafs and Shaitan make us lose it, we have to come back. Say, 'I shall make an effort, I shall struggle and listen with care and hear what is said carefully'. If you do that the result of that inshaAllah is some special Rahmaa (compassionate, merciful love) to you from Allah (swt). Allah only knows the very many gifts and ways in which He expresses His Rahmaa.

Just listen and what do we do many times. We don't do that. Many of us have gotten to the point where we have (sorry to say) commercialized the Quran, cd this, cd that, tape that. Just to listen to it for entertainment. Not for paying heed. Not for the words of God Himself. Sometimes we might have it on, the Quran is on and if you have television at home you're watching television at the same time! You're being distracted with other things that are not God. What else can be like Allah that keeps us distracted?!

Like when we are in Salah and we turn our gaze away, or we turn away with our hearts from the focus on Allah, it is said in one Hadith when we do that, Allah says 'ila ayn? To where? Something better than me?' And most of us are indeed heedless may Allah forgive us.

And if we do our part, the Rahmaa is that Allah will bring the meaning of those words of the Quran, which we memorize perhaps, into our heart. We might have something in our head but it's not in our heart or we might have something on our tongue but it is not in our head. If it's in our Qalb truly in our Qalb it shall remain. The fruits of it will ripen and we will taste of it.

"Be in Dhikr of your Lord inside of you"
. Not only by the tongue. Inside of you should be the awareness of Allah. In other words, inside of me I'm focused on Allah, oriented towards Allah, aware of Allah. It shouldn't be loud Dhikr but should be done in a way where we beg Allah and show our need, our Haajah our Maskanah, our destitution. We show that to Allah. We shouldn't be in Dhikr arrogantly and our minds are somewhere else. That's not right. And then when we are in Dhikr, we should be in that state of awe, reverence and fear. It's not just an external act. If we aren't, then we should make an effort to be that way. And not be in the habit of being in Dhikr as though we're playing basketball! We shouldn't. We should try to make sure that that which comes on our tongue is first in our Qalb, our heart. And not be like a person who is mad and says that which he doesn't know or mean or want.

And this is another Adab, some Ulema say it is Wajib and the opposite is Makruh some say Bidah, and some say its fine. But the Quran says it's not fine, the Adab of Dhikr is without being loud and to do that morning and afternoons, and the more the better.

And then He tells us, if you can, you should be in Dhikr more, every second of your life, because He tells us there are creatures with Me, who are they? The angels. Who are always in Dhkir and they never stop.

Says Allah that they are in Dhikr, Tasbeeh of Allah always and they NEVER stop and never feel tired, for their very nourishment, joy and food is the Dhikr of Allah [swt].

There are some Ibaad in this Dunya whose food is Dhikr of Allah. Rasulullah (s) tells us that when the Dajjal comes, before that there will be many, many years, I think 7 or 40 years in which there will be destitution on earth, lack of provisions, food, people won't find anything to eat. Then the Sahabah asked what will they eat then? He said their food will be Dhikr of Allah (s). Wallahi innahu al haqq. Sometimes Allah gives glimpses into the hearts of the servants of Allah. And when we are in Dhikr with our Quloob, we don't get as hungry, we don't need as much food or drink and we will not be dehydrated. That's Dunya, materialism stuff. Yes if our Quloob is not there we might get dehydrated but if our Quloob are there we will not for as long as that Qalb is with Allah.

One thing Rasulullah tells us is that the people in Jannah will miss one thing on earth. One thing, they wished they did more of it, they wish they could go back and do more of it. What is it? Dhikr of Allah. This is related as authentic.

May Allah make us of the Dhakireen and not of those who are given the knowledge and way of Allah and do not follow it.

********
"Rehearse to them the parable of the one we gave our signs, Ayats..." And what in time did that person do, he pulled himself out of it (ignored them) like a snake that pulls itself out of its body. And when we skin an animal like a sheep, when we remove the skin imagine that when we pull the skin like that what happens, we are subjected to the elements. When we pull ourselves, we expose our hearts and our lives to the harsh elements of creation, to Shaitan to Nafs to pain.

Consequently Shaitain will follow us. Some Ulema say not only will some follow us, but Shaitan will run behind him and become a follower of that human being! Shaitan learns from that human being. A'uthubillah!

"Had We willed with those Ayats, signs, knowledge, we would have lifted, raised him/her up and set them in loftier stations", but instead of being lifted this person chose to eternally stick to earthly things. SubhanAllah.

Would you like Manna wa Salwa or would you like onions and garlic? And sometimes that's what we do. Allah gives us Manna and Salwa and no we want onions and garlic, because Manna wa Salwa requires some commitment and work, so no, no we want to be earthlings forever and want things on earth and never ascend to loftier stations.


[astagh] [astagh] [astagh]

Jannah

Bismillah...

Another from the treasures of Allah [swt]. We invoke Him to benefit us from what we read. We finished Surah Anfal and we started Surah Tawbah and there are so many treasures everywhere and let us just pick from them and see.

In one of those treasures Allah says,"O you who have attained faith, respond positively to Allah and to His messenger when He (through Rasulullah) invites you". Imagine someone not used to water and they are brought water. They are told this is necessary for life. What would the reaction be? It would be something new and strange unless he takes it and drinks it etc. So Allah is telling us this is the same thing between those that know and those that don't know. So can we refuse and say no? SubhanAllah. This is the Haqeeqah of what Allah is offering. If we refuse, it's like the one that refuses life, the Source of life itself.

Sometimes we feel inside ourselves, our inclinations, our priorities, our feelings, all of those may become that which makes me see the water necessary for life. And know that Allah comes between you and your heart. What does this mean. If I don't have a heart, then there's no life. Allah comes before your heart, between your heart and life. Without Allah you shall live a life that is not truly human. Thus allow Allah to be in your heart before your heart. That is your inclinations, likes, dislikes, hate and so on.

"Verily, you shall all be gathered to Him". In other words, whatever choice you make, you shall be brought to account. If you made a choice for life or a choice for life-lessness. If you made a choice for life-lessness you shall have life-lessness in Akhirah, for living in Jahannam in Akhirah is not life and not death.

****

The next Surah, Surah Tawbah has many names, one of which is repentance. These are some reflections about it. Somewhere in the beginning Allah tells us about His love, Hubb. The ultimate Hubb shall be the Hubb for Allah [swt]

'Tell them O Muhammad, if your parents and your children and your brothers (or sisters), your spouses (wives and husbands), your family close to you, or business or trade of which you are concerned of (and therefore give your self and all your energies to)...if all of that is more beloved to you than your love, claim and attachment to Allah or for Jihad fi Sabeelillah (the Jihad within ourselves to obey Allah and his Rasul, to struggle against our own egoistic desires) then wait for the decree of Allah. Allah didn't say he'd those things from you but He said ... wait and see what is going to happen to you, until such time when Allah will bring His decree'.

Because Allah already knows what we are going to do and He is the appointer of time. Sometimes when we are not immediately punished for something, we don't feel anything. We're intoxicated with our ignorance. Allah may give us respite and time and if no negative things happen to us we think everything is fine.

They will not find clear guidance in their life. They'll feel despair. They won't know what to do in many instances. They'll always feel uncomfortable. That doesn't mean the Mu'min doesn't have problems. The Mu'min who has problems does not feel in his/her heart the pain and misery and shattering state that the one that does not have Imaan feels when challenged with the same problems

In this meaning the Mumin is protected. We have problems, the Mu'min, but he/she doesn't fall into a state internal that makes him/her implode. Allah tells us for example, if you were to spend voluntarily and willingly Allah will not accept from you. The person gives but Allah says it is not accepted. That's why a true Mu'min is in a state of awe and fear. Did Allah accept from me? It's always there in me? But for the Munafiq it's not there.

Truly there are people who don't have Imaan inside. What are some of their characteristics. "And when they come to Salah they come lazy". Shouldn't the Mu'min be afraid of this? How do we come to our Salah? "When they come, they come with laziness and when they spend in ways supposed to be Fee Sabeel Lillah, they do it with internal dislike."

And Allah tells us more characteristics: Some of the last ones include 'And there are those that promised to Allah and the Messenger: Ya Allah if you give us this and that, if you make us better, we shall give, and we shall take a path in life of righteousness', but then Allah says, 'and Allah knows what He does'. He gives some of them, power, wealth. And with time they break every promise. With more power and more wealth they keep even more distant from Allah, from Zakat, Salah, the Masjid, virtuousity, goodness and continue to indulge their Nufoos

May Allah protect us, help us, save us. May Allah cleanse our Quloob and may He be in our Quloob before anything else. And when we are not at that level we need to be, let us beseech and implore Allah to be in our Quloob as nothing and no one else. Ameen.


[alhamd] [alhamd] [alhamd]

Jannah

#11
Bismillah

Allahmumma taqabal minna salatana rukuana wa sajuduna....


We also finish tonight Surah Tawbah and Surah Yunus, and again collecting gladly from those gems and pearls scattered everywhere in all those wonderful Ayat.

As I was in Salah, something came upon my Qalb of the meaning of Suroor – happiness in Salah. That when we are in Sujood we ought to be happy! And truly Allah makes us feel truly happy when we are in Sujood. After all remember one thing, Subhanallah, that Shaitan was asked to be in Sujood and he disobeyed. And we as believers come to be in Sujood deliberately, voluntarily especially in Salah that is not obligatory such as this one, Nawafil, Sunan, Taraweeh. We prostrate ourselves voluntarily. We should be happy. Alhamdulillah that I am in Sujood!

And what is read in this Surah, "Tell them ya Muhammad (s) about the grace and bounty of Allah and His Rahmaa (merciful love) and by that they should be happy". That should be the lament that makes us happy. To be with Allah, to be in obedience of Allah, to be in the grace and bounty of Allah, to be following Rasulullah. For he (s) is His grace and Rahmaa. "We have sent you verily as a Rahmaa to the worlds". Rasulullah (s) said "I am THE GIFT of Rahmaa". And Allah says here that you should become happy.

So when we are in Sujood and in Ibadah in general, in obedience of Allah we should learn to focus, to feel in that moment that we are happy. And if that comes into our Quloob we don't want to be elsewhere. There is nothing inside of us that we want to do elsewhere. We are happy. And human beings, it is said, are in pursuit of happiness. And that happiness, Farah, is this, says Allah.

Now what else can attract us to make us 'happy'? We want to leave Salah, Dhikr of Allah something that Allah loves, whatever it is that binds us to Him? To what? What do we want to do besides this? That which you work hard to collect and gather? Says Allah in this Ayah and others, Allah's Fadl and Rahmaa is better for them, more beneficial, more successful than what they work so hard to gather and collect.

'Come for Salah'.  'Oh I don't have time...'  'I'm busy I have to finish...' 'I'm busy...' Subhanallah that's what Allah is telling us! Come to Allah in Salah, Dhikr, internal reflection that's better than what you and we work so hard for together.

****

Rasulullah (s) in Ghazwat Hunain gave respite to the people of Hunain, after he besieged them and before distributing the spoils. If we computed them now, they would be equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars. He was waiting so that maybe they come peaceful to Allah and then he would give them back all of that. Imagine people conquering a country and waiting for them to be good and then giving everything back! So he was waiting.

Then he began distributing the booty after awhile. And he gave those who were very new in Islam, like Abu Sufyan and his children, people who came into Islam after Fath Makkah and people who were enemies of Islam all their lives and he gave them, many people tens of millions of dollars worth of property, animals, gold and silver. And he gave the Ansar that came with him and lent support to him basically nothing! compared to what he gave to the Makkans. So they felt something in their heart. What was that? In my view I think something else, but in some interpretations they felt something because he didn't give them.

He told Saad ibn Muadh to go bring all the Ansar and collect them and Rasulullah said to them one of the most powerful, beautiful orations, so touching yet so powerful yet so simple. And of what he told them (s) at the end of that, he told them "Wouldn't it please you that people go back home to their lands and to their towns with gold and silver and cattle and Dunya, and you go back to your homes with Rasulullah?"

Dunya or Rasulullah (s). Which one would you like? When they heard that they CRIED, WEPT out of joy and happiness and also feeling sorry that they said what they said and they realized the treasure Allah has given to them. That is what should make them happy, that's what always made them happy and now he's going back with them to Madinah.

When Allah gives to the Qalb of the Mu'min the gift of Hub for Allah and Rasulullah, that's the source of their happiness. That is much more virtuous and much more valuable than all the treasures of the world! And Allah reminds us of that in this wonderful ayah in which He also tells us that Dunya is like "water from the sky." That it was mixed with the plantations and vegetation of earth and used by humans and animals until earth became beautiful and attractive and the inhabitants of earth, on account of that beauty, thought that now they have power over it. They have everything, dominion, power, control over it. When they reached a certain level of power and ease, assurance, then the matter of Allah comes by day, or by night, suddenly. Then it becomes like a harvested dry land. That's all it is. In the beginning it looks attractive, and then in the end... it's a desert.

This is Dunya. Allah (swt) sent his messengers to live in this Dunya to live the FULLEST life, life in awareness of Allah, life in happiness of Allah. Life in which we realize that this life in which we are is transitory. We should live this life in the fullest sense. In the meaning of the most noble meaning of "fullest", to go home to the Hereafter to be there forever with Allah. So no matter what we do in this Dunya of Halal matters we must always struggle to be aware of our journey and never forget that. And our happiness in this Dunya should be a sort of glimpse of our happiness in Akhirah. Our happiness of Akhirah is with whom? Being in the company of Allah.

If we never had happiness in this Dunya, happiness with Allah, that is a sign we will never have it in Akhirah!
Even a glimpse of happiness with Allah in this Dunya, if Allah gave us that in Dunya, that is perhaps a harbinger, a sign that we should have all of it in the fullest extent in Akhirah.

May Allah give us happiness in this Dunya min Fadlihi wa Rahmatihi.  Ameen.




[allahuakbar] [allahuakbar] [allahuakbar]

Jannah

#12
Bismillah...

Today, we finished Surah Hud and we started Surah Yusuf. Subhanallah every Ayah, every word is filled with beauty .Where to pick? Subhanallah. Something from the beginning and something from the end if you permit me.

Most of Surah Hud is about the events in the lives of some prophets:  Hud, Nuh, Musa, Salih and lessons to Rasulullah and all of us. Allah (swt) introduces that with Tawheed and with words and Ayats about His attributes. Then He tells us about the nature of many human beings, then He tells us about the stories, and then He concludes with admonitions to us about what we should do.

In that introduction Allah tells the human being, 'Verily the human being, (on average most of us) if We make them taste something good of Our grace, bounty, compassion and love and then later we withhold it from him/her, the response of most human beings is "Yuoos Kafoor", a person who shows despair excessively and acts in denial of gratitude!' Then he complains and therefore acts in accordance to that. How would a person who is in despair and angry respond? Anger. Violence. Greed. Doubt about God Himself. He begins to become more self-centered.

Imagine whatever Rahmaa Allah gives us, the first thing many people think of is wealth and power, but there are many different things i.e. knowledge, health, experiences, some Ulema say spiritual experiences even. And then He says, 'If we were to make the human being taste delight after we befell him with adversity, then the person is Farih happy, filled with joy, and Fakhoor ,an air of loftiness and arrogance.  He forgets. Just think of us and our own experience we've had of this nature.

But Allah says, there is an exception. This exception is the person that doesn't change whether in the first case or in the second case. Their hearts are at peace with their Lord in prosperity or in adversity, whether given or withheld, night or day. It doesn't change. Allah says, "Except those who show Sabr and act, struggle and make efforts to do that which is good and righteous." These people will be different. Internal patience Sabr is often bitter and difficult. Upon those indeed Allah bestows His goodness and great reward. It is also interesting to note that this is the only Ayah where Allah didn't say Innalatheena aamanoo as part of the exception.

******
Allah  tells us the stories of many Anbiya and time doesn't permit us to talk of all of them, but briefly one glimpse of the story of Nuh. One moment of it that I like to remind myself of is when Allah is sending His punishment against them and the waters are rising and there are still people that are stubborn, arrogant and deluded in their ignorance. They think they know and they still reject. And one of them was the very son of Nuh (as). The waters are rising becoming like mountains in their heights. And Nuh is in the ship that is running by divine mercy and the waves are becoming more turbulent and the skies are dark and the rain is torrential. And the son is running, running amongst others on top of a mountain. And the voice of Nuh reaches him, perhaps a Karamah of a Nabi in such weather and time. And the voice of the father reaches the son, a last chance, the father, the Nabi doesn't give up. "Come and be with us. Don't be with those that reject the truth, Allah and the Rasul. Come with us." And the son arrogant and deluded by his entourage, his friends, and the lifestyle he had. "No, no I'm well enough here. I'm gonna be safe on top of a mountain." Imagine the meaning that is in that text. Those of us that are deluded by our lifestyle, approach to life, and our friends say 'No no, I have it all. I don't need You. I don't need You'.

"I'm gonna rise to a mountain that will protect me and fortify me against the waters". Imagine that. How many ways can we respond to those who call us? Our spiritual mothers and fathers call to us. And we respond to them in our youthful arrogance. 'No I'm safe I don't need you. And the father still answers. "My son you don't know." Sometimes we think we know, but the human being doesn't know. "You were wrong before and especially today you're wrong. Nothing shall protect anyone from God's decree today and except the one Allah graces with his merciful love".

And he waited for him, but then the wave separated them and took him.

Our spiritual father, if you will, through the divine words of Allah constantly calls us to safety. But many of us human beings have a built in flimsy shield of arrogance because of our reasons, lifestyle, and resources. And we keep away from that in these waves, ocean of life. However, the only safety is in the very ship of Nuh, the ship of Rasulullah which is the ship of Nuh and all the messengers of Allah (swt). There is safety only there, not in us, not in our arrogance.

Allah concludes the Surah by telling us, "To Allah belong the unseen events of  His creation in the heavens and in the earth." That which we know, that which we don't know, that which we see and that we don't see, details of past and future, not only physical, but knowledge and feelings, it belongs to him. Not only does He know it, but it belongs to Him. "And all matters shall be brought back to Him" [swt]

And thus says Allah, "Therefore, worship Him in love and in full submission, and put your full trust in Him and rely on Him." In this life, we should not be like the son of Nuh  and rely on our ways, our resources, what we see and feel. For all of those are the means. We don't rely on the means. We use the means and rely on Allah.

"And know that your Lord is never unaware of  what you do, in secret or in public." Know that Allah is with you wherever you are. This is how this Surah concludes and summarizes the stories of the Anbiya.

May Allah clear our hearts, forgive us and grant us the energy by His love so that we sincerely journey to Him. Ameen



[alhamd] [alhamd] [alhamd] [alhamd]

Jannah

Salam,

You guys can post in here. I haven't heard any feedback this year. It seems like people are reading according to the viewcount but I dunno?? Should I continue to lug my laptop around?? :-[

K wsalaam

AbdulBasir

 [slm]
This Ramadan reminder series makes my Ramadan every year! May Allah reward you for posting these and all the effort put in to it!
"Be in the estimation of Allah the best of people, and in the estimation of your nafs the worst of people, and in the estimation of others a man from amongst the people"-Sayiddina Ali bin Abi Talib

BrKhalid

Asalaamu Alaikum [beardbro]

I wasn't sure where we supposed to comment on these so thanks for clarifying.  [beardbro]

I'd have to agree with Day 11's being my favourite thus far and this particular quote struck me:

QuoteWe prostrate ourselves voluntarily. We should be happy. Alhamdulillah that I am in Sujood!

Of course one automatically thinks of the following related verse:

Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest![13:28]


I remember our Imam once saying to us to compare the sujood we make during the depths of the night in Tahajjud as compared to the rest of the day and the difference of feeling upon your heart.

There is also that verse in the Quran which tells us that on the Day of Judgement we will be asked to prostrate but those who disbelieved won't be able to.

Keep on posting!! InshaAllah we will all add our thoughts and refelections
"The good deed and the evil deed are not alike. Repel the evil deed with one which is better, then lo! he, between whom and thee there was enmity (will become) as though he was a bosom friend" [41:34][/b]

zahidayar

#16
 [slms] jazakallahu khair 4 posting the notes .. keep up the good work  [jzk]

sundoc

 [slm]

Great posts sister Jannah... I hadn't read any of them until today.

dhikra

as salaamu 'alaikum... I just pretend I am sitting in masjid al hidayah while I am reading these beautiful reminders and all is well :)  I get to sit and ponder on the words especially since they sometimes seem to become advices to me on some days.  These are the most beautiful string of pearls myy sister...so please lug that laptop and type away.

May Allah (swt) reward you for every letter of every word... and for those times when you are so very tired and you just want to sleep but you remember those of us who are not as priveleged and you pick up that laptop and type away...May those rewards be special. May Allah (swt) accept the good we do for His sake, and may our dua's and fasting and dhikr be a shield for all of us.  Ameen.

Jannah

#19
wsalaam,

Alhamdulillah... for you guys I'll continue to lug around the laptop, now I have my sister and bro-in-law here so it's all good  [flyaway]

[jazaks] and please keep us all in your duas this blessed month!!

ws

PS here's the link to last year's for anyone who isn't all caught up: http://jannah.org/ramadan/lovelyramadanreminders.html

It's interesting I think last year's were shorter and more emotional/impactful. This year's are longer, more complex and make you think more.

Jannah

#20
Bismillah...

We completed Surah Yusuf, Surah Rad and Surah Ibrahim today. A few brief reflections from perhaps each one of them inshaAllah tala. May Allah [az] open our Quloob.

The story of Sayyidna Yusuf is a powerful, wonderful, beautiful story. It is filled with lessons in Aqeedah, Tawheed of Allah and virtues such as the virtues of Ridaa and Sabr. All are in this Surah and more.

Allah tells us of Yusuf's story [as] as well as about his father, Sayyidna Yaqoub, as a wonderful example for youth, adults, and for all people. One glimpse of that wonderful story was related by Rasullah [saw] when he said that 'Allah gave half of beauty to Yusuf [as]' and that beauty was external but most certainly, importantly, internal.

And here he was, a young strong man in a household of wealth and power and here is the woman of that powerful person in Egypt. She herself with position, status and beauty offers herself to Yusuf [as]. Yusuf was in that moment alone in that powerful attraction with her. She, beautiful with status and power, offering herself to him. And what was his first response? Look at this beautiful Qalb. It's not 'I fear disease'. 'I fear I'll get caught'. It's not any of that. It's the remembrance of Allah. Ma'aadh Allah, Ma'aadh Allah. "I seek the refuge of Allah. This is not befitting of a relationship with Allah"

Subhanallah.. immediately Ma'aadh Allah and then after that it is not befitting to do that to someone, to the husband of this woman, who has honored and dignified me. Now it's virtue, beautiful Akhlaq, beautiful etiquettes and virtues. This is not befitting of moral conduct and beautiful social virtue.

And you know the story of all of that... either he will do that or he goes to jail! Subhanallah. What does he choose? Jail. Said he, "Prison is more beloved to me than what they are inviting me to do". And then he turns and begs Allah to help him. "O Allah please help me". Now look at his position and his strength and ability and his moral spiritual alertness. He doesn't rely on that. He was strong spiritually and he was strong morally and he showed that, but he didn't rely on that. His strength is from Allah. That's why he turns to Allah in supplication and says, "Ya Allah, if you don't keep their conspiracies, machinations away from me I should weaken and become ignorant".

Reliance of Allah always. No matter what one has achieved even if they have grand acts.

And he remains in jail for YEARS. He doesn't say, 'Why did God do this to me? I am this or that?' Many of us, religious people, have heard that many times, including Muslims. They say, 'God can't do this to me. I demand that God give me this or that'. And then people lose their faith. Lose the grandest prize that God has given them. Yusuf [as] didn't even do anything wrong. He acted beautifully, virtuously and ended up in jail!! And in jail he's a calm ocean and shows his Tawheed.

Allah sent him in jail in his wisdom to teach Tawheed to people in jail. When people came to ask him the explanation of their dreams, he first invited them to Tawheed.

Dawah. Tawheed. Pure Tawheed. 'This is the way of my fathers of Ishaq, Yaqoub. And this is the gift of Allah to us and most people are unthankful of this. This is the way, not the way you are worshipping, the style of life you're living'. And then he gives them the meaning of their dreams.

Subhanallah, an example of a life of someone always under the gaze and love of Allah and who was greatly thankful for Allah's gift. He didn't waver under tribulations and trials of his beauty and purity of his Tawheed. May Allah help us all.

Yusuf, Yusuf as Sideeq. Ah that story and one glimpse from Surah Rad that comes after that. Many beautiful Ayat in this Surah. One lesson that we can leave with.

Allah says in that Surah, "Verily Allah [swt] does not change a state of a people until they change that which is within themselves." That which is within you, within me. Those emotions, attachments for other than Allah, for other ways than the way of Allah. Until we change that within us and change our relationship with Him and consequently our relationship to our Creatures.

How much desire do we have for Him? How much love? How much fear and awe? How much hope? How much expectation of the ultimate encounter with him? How much longing do we have for the meeting on the Day of Judgment?

The way we are inside is how the world will be on the outside. Consequently, human beings who are believers and seekers of truth and divine knowledge must work daily on making sure what we are changing on the inside and with our relationship to Allah. If that doesn't change the outside doesn't change.

It is well said:  You get what you deserve. Everybody does, individual, family and nations. In one way or the other.

And Allah says in another Ayah in Surah Anfal that we read before. "Allah does not change the state of grace and bounty of a people until they change that is within themselves."

Lastly in this Surah there is a very beautiful Duah of our father Ibrahim. He turns to Allah about Makkah, about his time when he brought Hajar and Ismail to Makkah. Makkah was not the way it was 14 centuries ago or now. It was no place. It was a desert. It was a spot that Allah honored and chose when He created the earth. That desolate place, between mountains, hot. That is the most beloved spot of Allah. Not a spot that is green or lush. Not a spot that is wealthy and powerful. Look what Allah chooses! What message is He sending to us?

That is the most honored spot in the universe. What was there in that spot? This space Allah assigned for his Bayt. That was what was special. And there he prayed to bring forth from his offspring those who will honor, who will declare His Tawheed and perform Salah. And let hearts of human beings be drawn to it, to come running. And provide for them fruits. Go to Makkah now. It's strange. I don't know if this is positive or negative, but the most expensive real estate on earth is in that desert. That's it. Not in Japan anymore!! Anywhere in Makkah, the desert. Go look for fruits when you go there, in a desert. The fruits of ALL THE WORLD are there. The prayer of Ibrahim. Water. That desert! Water runs, La Ilaha Illlalah!, everywhere 24 hours day and night, for CENTURIES from ZamZam. Uninterrupted! Subhanallah. Subhanallah. Look how Allah has honored us. The desert becomes life.

On account of what. Not on account of wealth and power. On account of La ilaaha illlah. On account of Tawheed.

Bring Tawheed in your heart, and the desert in your heart becomes life.

Allah [swt] can pick the poorest, weakest of human beings and give him/her a heart that becomes so beautiful. That's what He loves. And sometimes that's where He puts His most beautiful secrets. In the hearts of people, poor, desolate, no one pays attention to them. And yet they would be the most beautiful creatures to Allah. Just like that Makkah, a desolate place, no one wanted it and Allah [swt] made it the most wanted piece of earth.

Allahumma tahir quloobuna...
May Allah help us pay heed to His words. Make us of those who truly learn and internalize and practice for He is the one who gives all Gifts. May He give us those eternal gifts of Iman and Muhabba. Ameen.


[alhamd] [allahuakbar] [sbh]




ummmuneeb

#21
Quote from: Jannah on September 25, 2007, 04:29:19 AM
Salam,

You guys can post in here. I haven't heard any feedback this year. It seems like people are reading according to the viewcount but I dunno?? Should I continue to lug my laptop around?? :-[

K wsalaam
[slms] [alh]Beautifull article just want to read again and again May Allah(SWT) reward you for every word you write Ameen.we learn so much MashaAllah Alhumdulilah.I just sit and ponder on the words since they give us so much lessons Alhumdulilah.So please keep on writing JazakAllahkhair .ummmuneeb


[Pictures removed for formatting]

Jannah

#22
Bismillah...

Allahumma taqabbal minna siyamana wa qiyamana....

Some reflections from Surah Hijr and Surah Nahl, which by the grace of Allah we completed tonight.

In Surah Hijr Allah [swt] starts with beautiful concepts of Tawheed and then continues with the many other beautiful new meanings in the story of the early genesis of the human being. He begins to tell us of the story of the peoples to whom the messengers of Allah were sent.

He tells us of Ibrahim and Lut in somewhat of an extended way. Then He tells us about Al-Aikah and Al-Hijr. But mostly it's about Lut and his people. And the reflection here is at the end of the story of the people of Lut. Allah says "Verily, are signs for the Mutawasimun". What are the Mutawasimun? Many Ulema speak of this conceptually, but it is some sort of knowledge, internal knowledge, and knowledge by signs and indicators given to some Ibadh. By some external signs and indicators and internal inspiration by Allah they can tell about hidden things and hidden realities of things. Attawassum. Wasama is when you seal something, like if you take for example an animal, cattle and when you want to identify a cattle you brand them and that's a Wasam. In other words, you leave a mark to identify. So Attawasum is what you mark something to identify it.

As an example of that, first it is said that one time Imam Shafii was with Imam Muhammad ibn al Hasan ash-Sheibani around the Kabah. They were sitting together and they both looked at a man and one of them said 'I think he is a carpenter'. The other said 'I think he's a blacksmith.' Then someone who overheard this conversation went and asked the man and he said "I used to be a carpenter and now I'm a blacksmith'. Subhanallah, an example of Tawassum.

It is also related of Hasan al-Basri, the great Tabii, the one who was breast-fed by the milk of one of the mothers of the believers. That's why the Ulema used to say the eloquence of Hasan comes from the Barakah of the milk of the household of Rasulullah (s). Amr ibn Obaid was a very famous scholar in Basra and later head of the group that rejected Qadr. It is said Subhanallah, before that all happened when he was a young man, Hasan al-Basri looked at him and said, 'This will be the Sayyid (most honorable) of the youth of Basra IF he does not innovate'. Years later, Wa Authobillah he was the head of a horrible innovation. SubhanAllah time passed and Allah brought to reality what he spoke. That's an example of Tawassum.

One example also that the Ulema mention, that is worth mentioning, is in the time of the Sahabah and Tabi'een. One time it is said Anas ibn Malik as a young man was walking to visit the house of Sayyidna Uthman [ra] after Rasulullah's time and he said he looked at a woman. In those days how did women look like, how did they dress. He looked at her briefly and Sayyidna Uthman said, according to this report, 'Why does one of you enter in my presence and in his eyes there is adultery?' Anas said 'I said, "What! Is there revelation after Rasulullah!"'. Uthman [ra] said, 'No, no, this is evidence that Allah gives the truthful and sincere.'

My point of all this is at the end of the Surah about Lut. The story of Lut was about what? Sexual promiscuity. And thus the Ulema say the one who does not protect his gaze will never have Tawassum.  That those whom Allah gives that to are those who guard their gaze and heart from such things. Even the extras, let alone the Haram and the Makruh. Our Ulema and the Ulema of our Quloob saw this Isharah and the way this particular story ended. And it's the only one in the Quran that ends like this.

********************

Surah Nahl is another Surah that opens with a powerful reminder that the Hour is close. It speaks about in the past tense. "The decree of God has arrived. Do not be hasty about it"

There are those who ask, 'when is it?' 'when is it?'... and in the Quran it is Ataa. It has already occurred! I have spoken before about how in the Quran future events are sometimes talked about in the past tense. There are two possible meanings for this.

1.   Allah is not subjected to time. There is no past or future for Him. Time is not only relative, it is the creation of God. There was no time. And we say 'was' yet 'was' is a past tense. AT one point there was no time! Time is a creation of Allah. It is we the created ones that are subject to the flow of time, the arrow of time and all that comes with that, of feelings and conceptions. Modern scientists exclaim over the insistence of human beings  separating past, present and future and say it is a stubborn illusion! Allah is the creator of time.

2.   It also indicates to us that we should be very, very careful and cautious and to live our lives as though it has occurred, or that it will occur very soon. For when we die, and we all shall die, we will believe we lived for a short time. When we are brought back to life, especially those who lived in this world as though we would live forever, after being under the earth for who knows how long, will say 'It was just yesterday.' So Allah draws our attention to that.

********

For more reflection, at the end of this Surah Allah says, "Verily Allah commands justice, equity, fairness, balance and magnanimity"

Ihsan is more than justice. It is doing more than justice, such as giving up our rights, such as giving when we are in need, such as not reciprocating harm done to us with harm in personal matters, to forgive and not only forgive, to do good to those who do harm to us. That's Ihsan. Allah commands that there be justice and Ihsan. Not only in society, but there must be Ihsan in a community. This is a command. And in the life of an individual, he or she MUST have Ihsan in his/her life sometime, not just justice.

My dear brothers and sisters, these I remind myself of first and then you, and beg and implore Allah that we listen to the words of admonition and follow the best of them. Ameen.


Jannah

Bismillah...

Alhamdulillah ta'ala we've finished half of the Quran at this moment. We just recited Surah Isra and most of Surah Kahf tonight.

One or two reflections inshaAllah to benefit from what we read of the many, many gems and pearls of the Quran. I believe we should not leave without having learnt something new every night from the Quran. So I hope and pray we do that at home and here. After all, Ramadan is the month of Quran. May Allah [swt] collect our hearts to do just that InshaAllah ta'ala.

From Surah Isra, Allah tells us about that wonderful, mystical, spiritual experience beyond the knowledge of any human being. Rasulullah [saw] was taken as mentioned in this Surah from Makkah to Jerusalem (Bait al Maqdis) Masjid al-Aqsa. The seat of the early messengers. In this wonderful journey Allah showed him so many wonderful and special signs. Rasulullah was first taken to Jerusalem, thereby connecting all human history.

He was made to lead all the prophets and messengers of Allah there to emphasize the message that all the messengers of Allah came with. For Allah, the creator of all, the creator of time, thought, and space, NOTHING that exists is not His creation. Everything is His creation. It is not something complex for Allah that all the Rasul and Anbiya were brought to Rasulullah [saw]  to be led in Salah in a way that is known to Allah that is beyond that we can describe.

After all, there are things taking place around us we can't see. After all in science there are things going on called hyperspace, wormholes, and gateways to other universes. In that multi-dimensional space that could have taken place. So in that so called hyperspace Allah could allow him to do that. The hyperspace of Jerusalem, or however it pleases Allah to do this.

The Meraj was to emphasizing the unity of the divine message and raising His beloved Abd and servant, Muhammad (s). He raises him up to him in ways beyond description, space and time and conception. Rasulullah is celebrated in his ascension by the messengers of Allah and the Mala'ikah.

[saw]

Indeed he [saw] was made to experience what was beyond comprehension. That was a momentous wonderful spiritual gift to Rasulullah. Allah made him experience the ultimate pursuit of divine nearness, beyond what anyone can achieve of spiritual realization. That was for him (s). But for us there is something very interesting and wonderful. During that cosmic mystic spiritual powerful journey in the presence of the divine, it is there Allah gave him a gift to bring to US.

Salah.

The five daily Salawat was made obligatory upon us in that journey of Meraj, spiritual ascension of Rasulullah . Every Hukm was given from the divine to Jibreel on earth. But Salah was given from the divine, no other intermediary, to Rasulullah in the uppermost dimensions.

Salah. How important it is. It is like God is saying [swt] to us in the world: This is your Meraj to me! You will never be in Meraj like Muhammad, but at your level in this Dunya your Meraj to Me is in Salah. Come to me in Meraj at your level in every Salah and that is why the Ulema say 'Salah is the Meraj of the Mu'min'. It is no wonder that Rasulullah says 'Salah is THE pillar of Islam'. That's why when he was leaving this world and going to join his God, Allah [swt] when he (s) was dying the last admonition to us was 'As-salah, As-salah...' Perform Salah, establish Salah. Take Salah seriously. Let it be considered by us as a means of spiritual transport to Allah as a Meraj.

****
In Surah Isra Allah amongst many gems, pearls and treasures, and miracles, signs and Ayats of Allah, He tells us everything in this universe is in Dhikr of Allah. The seven heavens, all dimensions of Allah's creations, the earth and all the planets are in Tasbeeh of their Lord. And all that which is in them. Your blood, your selves, your hair, your skin, your molecules, particles of air, fish, birds, that which is quantum like, invisible and that which is galactic. All is in Dhikr of Allah [swt].

"All is in praise, but you do not comprehend the way they do that". This is certainly something you can't research with dry spiritless minds. For so many great minds are miniscule because of their arrogance and delusion. Many people with great worldly knowledge are so deluded, so obstinate and thus they will NEVER understand this, never experience this.

Some people who's hearts are beautiful and clean Allah made them see these things of space, time water, fish, ants, pebbles, trees, stars planets. Allah gave them that knowledge and experience, because they were not only intellects they were most transparent Quloobs. Their hearts were clean and beautiful. Their intellects were not of Shaitan. Shaitan knew a lot, had great knowledge but he was dry. He was not worthy of divine experience.

Thus when we are in Dhikr of Allah, we know this and we seek to be in Dhikr and like everything in the universe we want to be in Dhikr of Allah. We don't want to be the stubborn exception!!

There is a Hadith that as the sun sets everything is in Dhikr of Allah except the fools and the stubborn and dumb ones amongst Jinn and human beings!

May Allah give us that spiritual alertness. May Allah make us of those who know Him and adore Him and are in Dhikr of Him and find Uns comfort and solace in His Dhikr.



Jannah

salam,

inshallah will post tonight's tomorrow night... tired

ws


Jannah

Bismillah...

A few reflections from the gems and pearls in the Quran. So that we don't leave without some reflection about what we recited and hoping that most of you do read the Quran daily especially in Ramadan. We just completed Surah Kahf and Surah Maryam.

One of the major lessons of Surah Kahf is told through its stories and parables.  The story of the people of the cave to the story of the two friends, one of whom who had the wonderful huge garden, the story with Musa and Sayyidna Khidr and then the story of Dhul Qarnain. In all of that, one of the common themes is about Tawheed in one's heart and life. We should not engage our minds and hearts in creatures such as Jinn and human beings at the expensive of Allah. We also should not attach our hearts and minds to the means. Even the means used for legitimate purposes, for that would be also a form of Shirk and assigning partners to Allah.

This is very clear in these stories. At then end Allah says, Amal comes before the concept of Shirk. Allah is summarizing the theme of these stories, that it's about doing. What we act in religious matters and other acts we do not rely on our own selves, our own minds or hearts, but we do rely and attach our hearts to Allah.

The story of the person with the two gardens. He had power, means and resources, but he attached himself to the resources. That's his Shirk. So when we have a lot, we feel comfortable, but when we don't, we feel down. We act as though that is the very source of power for us. Not that Allah created those things, and created those means. Then we become deluded, arrogant and tyrannical. And we say La ilaha ilallah and believe in God, but we act like the owner of the two gardens.

Dhul Qarnain is the opposite. Allah gave him the means for attaining everything in his time. He was not attached to the means and resources Allah gave him. He was always mindful, intellectually, spiritually and practically of Allah. That's why at the end when he did that great work for the people against Yajuj wa Majuj, that engineering miracle though the means. He did not glorify and celebrate himself. He didn't say, "I have gone where no man has gone before, done what no man did before". What did he say? "This is Rahmaa from my Lord"

How did Rasulullah [saw] enter Makkah after everything the Makkans did? He entered on a camel with his head bowed down almost to touching the camel. He did not worship the means. He did not want glory. He did not want that.

Allah gave Khadr without means. He transcended the means. Allah creates with means and without means. Allah gave him the spiritual power in the natural order. And then at the end he was very humble. "This I have not done on my own account". That's a story that teaches us one of it's main themes is about Tawheed and specifically about Shirk in means.

*****

The story of Maryam in Surah Maryam is a story of purity. Those who struggle to preserve their purity, their sanctity, their innocence, their Fitrah, men and women, do that under odds against them. Allah honors them and glorifies them and protects them and gives them in ways they do not comprehend. They are not like just anyone. Allah breaks the natural laws for them. Maryam [as] did not live like any woman. Allah gave her not like he gave any woman. So in the end Allah brings this to our attention. Verily those who have Imaan truly attained faith in their Quloob. How much of this do we have? Allah will make for those who have that and act in accordance to that in righteousness, morality, goodness and purity, Wudd, environments that shall love them and give them pure love.

It is related one of the Salihoon said to his teacher or friend 'Sometimes people come to me and I don't know them and I've never done anything to them, and they express such love and fidelity and I don't deserve that' and then his teacher related to him this Ayah.

May Allah [swt] make us of them inshaAllah

*****


We concluded with Surah Ta HA

It begins with this powerful, shocking, mysterious, attractive way. What is Ta Ha? Only Allah knows. There are many interpretations some of which we know of, some we don't know. That's not important. "This Quran was not revealed to you, Muhammad [saw], so that you live in hardship". That your life is miserable that you live in difficulty. No. On the contrary, this is for those who want to realize their humanness. This is a Tadhkirah for those who have awe. A reminder. And that reminder is so powerful and so beautiful and those who take it, shall be guided by it. 

Allah then begins to tell us of the powerful story of Musa [as] when Allah Himself is speaking. When you read Quran and your Qalb is present you feel that Allah is speaking and addressing His words directly to Musa! This is very powerful with many beautiful lessons.

Allah tells us the Hubb (not just love in English or in any other language), He bestowed upon Musa suffices for protection. As a baby his mother was ordered to throw him in the sea when Pharaoh was killing all children! Subhanallah. Is that consistent in the human scale? But in the divine scale He says right after that "Throw him in the sea, but I have thrown upon you, My Love, My Hubb". And the one who is enveloped in the Hubb of Allah [az], what can harm him or her or it?

Allah concludes that wonderful Surah by reminding us and telling Rasulullah [saw] to have patience, despite the mischief, corruption, aggression and violence of those who counter the divine message. Fasbir.

When we are under oppression, under difficulty, in a state of calamity and difficulty, internal and external, what do we do? What does Allah say? Practice Sabr and with Sabr, Dhikr. All day, 24 hours, rising sun, setting sun and in between be in Dhikr of Allah [swt]. If you do that you shall be pleased.

May Allah bring our Quloob to that.

*****

Then Allah told him [saw], don't be attracted by the ornaments of Dunya that others have; wealth and power and spouses, beautiful things. And we all compete, fight each other for, envy for these. "And do not turn your gaze and attraction to that which we have provided of them of this world, as it is a Fitnah (trial, test)" Some of them fall into that Fitnah. Rare are those who will be safe. So let us not be like them. Instead, command yourself and your family with Salah. Not just external Salah, movement. We've got to learn. Some of us have been practicing Salah for 30 years! The same way we prayed 30 years ago is the same way we pray now! The same carelessness, absentmindedness. 30 years and we do the same thing!! And we don't change anything! We don't improve! or do anything better. And yet we spend all our 30 years and more of our time improving Dunya.

We don't want today to be like yesterday in Dunya, yet we are fine with 30 years ago being the same in our Ibadah!

We do not want to come to Salah in Dhikr of Allah and we continue to do that until we die.

May Allah bring our hearts together and may He make the last of our days the most beautiful of our days with Him.


Jannah

Bismillah...

Allahumma taqabal minna salatana, qiyamana, rukuana, siyamana....

We completed tonight walhamdulillah, Surah Anbiya and Surah Hajj. And we implore Allah to open our hearts to His words and benefit from them.

Anbiya is the plural of Nabi, which translates sometimes as prophet, though in my view that's not a very correct translation because the word prophet does not include the connotations of the Arabic word Nabi. In Surah Anbiya, Allah tells us about some instances in the lives of some of those Anbiya [as]. He starts the Surah and ends it with a reminder of the hereafter.

In the beginning, the reminder is of the coming of the Hour. Allah tells us this in a way in the Quran to indicate that for Him there is no time. He is the Creator of Time. He is not subjected to time, future, past or present. Time as it passes in our reference could be millions of years, billions, thousands, hundreds. There is no such a thing for Allah so that is why in the Quran sometimes He speaks without tense. The past is spoken about in the present, the future spoken about in the past.

So in this Surah He says, "The reckoning for the human beings has drawn near, while they continue to be in Ghaflah". In a state of absentmindedness and absent-heartedness, turning away from this reality. Every time one reads that Ayah this is very moving, scary, strong. Your reckoning has drawn nearer. The notion of time to Allah is not like that of ours. We take 100 years of living to be so long, but it is not in reality. Now perhaps every person, every student knows about relativity of time. That you can have a million years on earth and it is equivalent in a different reference to 1 second.

Allah has said the Hour has drawn near, yet we continue to live in Ghaflah. As though we don't know that or that it won't happen. We live our lives not in awareness of this reality. Every one of will die, that is our hour anyway. How long do we live? 40 years? 60, 70, 80, 100 120? That Hour of ours will come. Every day, every moment it is near. The day we were born, the countdown started! Each year is a year less from our lives, 20 years is 20 less from our lives. The countdown started when we came out from the wombs of our mothers and yet we continue to be in a state of Ghaflah from this reality. We grow older and we want to be young and we don't want to die. We want to live forgetting this reality. And thus human beings create so many styles of life to forget this reality. Except those who are truly sincere in their love and seeking of Allah [swt].

"Every time there shall come to them a reminder from their Lord anew, again and again, they listen to it while they are in jest, their hearts are distracted and entertained by something else". Like perhaps now what we're sharing with each other, some of us fall into this category. They hear it but they continue to play, And then the unbelievers of them speak to each other in privacy and talk about Rasulullah (s). They talked about him then and they still talk about him to this day, that Muhammad is this or that.

Allah tells us in this Surah so many beautiful things, things of different genres that would be good for different types of people. Not two pages later, He talks about the unbelievers and says 'Don't the unbelievers who are stubborn about denying His Lordship, don't they study the heavens and earth. Don't they know they were all one unit, one thing and We broke them asunder, and we made of water every living thing'.

These are things to ponder about. Nowadays people who study these material sciences know and teach that indeed at some point of creation, all space time and matter were contained in one singularity and there was a big bang and that's how it all began and later became water. And that's what they believe.

After awhile Allah tells us about some Anbiya and some Rasul to be our example. They have paid heed to Allah. Their hearts were not distracted no matter what their lives were, rich or poor. And they were very busy, the busiest creatures, but their hearts were always with Allah. It was not a mental dry scientific exercise. Their hearts were with Allah. They were in Ibadah, Hubb, Khushoo, Raja', their emotions and attachments were there. And thus Allah tells us about some of them and how each one asked Allah something and Allah responded and gave. Responded and gave.

Ayyub [as] was befallen by calamity, tribulation trials and disease for many many years and he lived that way and it didn't change his Qalb. It only accentuated his love and attachment to Allah. And Allah tells us the beautiful way he addressed Allah in that state and how he did not lose the proper Adab in talking to Allah in that state. Ayyub when he called upon His Lord, said, "Oh my Lord disease has touched me, and you are the most loving of those who give merciful love". 'Disease has touched me'. He was so ill that everything was ill and he had pain and disease from every side, such that he  prayed that it not touch his heart so he that he could continue to be in Dhikr of Allah! Years later he finally spoke and addressed Allah with this beautiful wonderful Dua. 'Disease touched me.' He didn't say 'Ya Allah you struck me with disease, Subhanak'. He says just 'touched me' not struck me, hit me. And he attributes his state to the disease. And when it comes to love and mercy, he says You are the most Loving of those who give mercy.

Those whose hearts were not distracted. They were true with Allah and Allah was true with them.

Then Allah concludes with statements of the Hereafter connecting the first with the last to remind us of that fact.

"O mankind, fear your Lord, be conscious of your Lord, for verily the trembling of the Hour is something momentous. When you see that, every female nursing a child will give up, lose that which she is breastfeeding." Imagine that animal or human is nursing a child and the Hour's trembling is so beyond example that that's lost and given up. They don't know where they are. They lose their sense of space.

"And every female which bears a child inside will abort". This gives us a conception of what that Hour is. SubhanAllah. So Allah says, "Itaqallah, be conscious of your Lord, fear your Lord". Protect yourself from that which is the Zalzala of the Hour and the wrath and anger of Allah when it befalls the human being.


Allah continues to tell us of those who don't have knowledge and they argue about God. They follow other ways which are ultimately the ways of Shaitan without knowledge. Then Allah concludes from the beginning of the Surah with a call to mankind to fear their Lord and then He ends with a call to mankind.

"O mankind a parable has been set for you. Listen. Verily those that you call besides God, they will not be able to create anything, not even a fly. Even if they were to come together and work together as teams to create a fly, they would not be able to. And if a fly were to come and take something from them they would not be able to get it back". Go ahead and try to get your food back! They will not be able to! SubhanAllah. That's all they are. So weak.



Some of us consider other creatures God, because of their spiritual prowess and gifts, and what they may show of wonders and miracles. And some human beings amongst us, weak and ignorant, look at them as god-like.

Some scholars say why does Allah mention a fly, and a fly that takes something. Currently one observation is of interest. Geneticists say the simplest genetic code that is studied is that of the Drosophila, 'the fruit fly'. Now we know the genetic code is the building block of everything else, the commands, code needed to make the human being. And the simplest is that of the fly. And not even a fly can they make. SubhanAllah. Go ahead and make that genetic code let alone the fly itself.

And it is also said Allahu tala alam, when a fly goes on food, it secretes something that mixes with that and changes the structure of that thing. And then it sucks it. And even if you go and get the fly, you won't get back what it took from you, because it's changed it! Transformed to something else, you'll never be able to recover it.  It's interesting to see that Allah says even if a fly takes something from them they won't be able to recover it.

Surah Hajj calls humankind to give the right of Rububyyah, the right Lordship and Ubudiyyah to Allah [swt].

We invoke Allah to be of those whose hearts are in awareness of the Rububiyyah of Allah and give due to that Rububiyyah through the fullest Ubidiyyah to Him under all circumstances. Ameen.





Jannah

Bismillah...

A few reflections from the Surahs we recited. By the grace of Allah we finished Surah Mu'minoon and Surah Noor tonight.

Surah Mu'minoon starts by drawing our attention to the characteristics of those who will live in bliss in Dunya and Akhirah. Allah [swt] starts by enumerating their characteristics. He starts the first one, "Indeed the faithful ones have attained felicity, the ones who in their Salah have Khushoo". Not just ones that perform Salah, but the ones that have Khushoo. Their limbs and their hearts are in stillness and acquiescence. This wonderful Surah is about the Mu'minoon the faithful ones and Allah continues to describe other characteristics of those believers and the stories of some of His messengers and comes back to admonish us to return to Him. He then closes by reminding us of scenes of the Hereafter where some will be most aggrieved and full of regret.

Allah describes those who lived amongst us in disobedience and Hawa, following their own inclinations and lusts and desires and their own perceptions in what life and happiness should be. They would make fun of and ridicule those who did not do that and followed a different path of morality, innocence, virtuosity, simplicity and Akhirah-consciousness. Like people did in previous times and in current times and will do in the future. Then Allah says of the others, "Today I have rewarded them, on account of their patience, and perseverance in their patience." Patience in the face of what they had to undergo of ridicule and challenges in this life.

May Allah make us of those Ibaad who are Mu'minoon and whom Allah protects with His enveloping loving mercy.

**********

Surah Noor begins with laws pertaining to social relationships, marriage relationships and sexual relationships. Allah tells us what is moral and what is immoral. And about the testimony that is required for the claim that someone has committed Zina – that is any sexual act outside a valid contract of marriage between a man and a woman. Allah describes those who lie and falsify testimonies to hurt women and claim they have committed this and that when they have no evidence. Thus Allah requires 4 eyewitnesses, not 2, for the act of sexual illicitness. And the Sunnah describes to us more specifics of what that testimony should be like. Otherwise those that make that claim and don't bring the witnesses, the punishment will turn against them.

In the middle of that Surah Allah talks to us about Noor. It's interesting that in this Surah after talking about social behavior, sexual behavior and morality, Allah talks about light. Remember a few nights ago that some Ulema have observed like in Surah Hijr at the end of the Surah about Lut, Allah talks about the concept of Tawassum. Allah [swt] is talking about that light inside the heart of the believer that the person uses to see spiritually. And here Subhanallah after a discourse on licit and illicit sexual behavior, Allah speaks of Noor. Thus by Isharah, indication, those whose behavior is illicit and indulge their gaze will be deprived of internal Noor.

The Ayah is about the Noor of Allah inside the heart of the believer. If one has Noor inside his/her heart from Allah then he sees all the way it really is. He sees all the spectrum of life the way it should be as physical light is needed to see physical objects. Without physical light there are no physical objects. Depending on the wavelength of a light you see an object in different colors. Are we really this way? Are we the way we look? If there was a different light we would see each other differently and we would be different in the way we look. Just like without the light of the Noor of Allah in the Qalb, we would be seeing differently, not the way things really are. This is not any light, but His light. Any light of a different wavelength will make us see things differently and we are what we are because of light and its wavelength.

There are a lot more wonderful beautiful lessons we can draw from this Ayah of Noor, but we don't have time to elaborate further.

At the end of this Surah Allah reminds us of following the way of his Rasul [saw] and following the Sunnah and not following any other way that is not his [saw] and doesn't comply with what he said, did and approved of. If we don't do that then we could be in danger and Fitnah and there many ways by which we can be driven away from the way of the Rasul on account of our own ignorance, inclinations and Hawa. And thus we implore Allah for sincerity in imploring him for making us walk on the path of Rasulullah [saw].

As Rabiah says one should seek forgiveness from Allah in asking forgiveness from Allah.
I seek forgiveness from Allah from me saying 'oh Allah forgive me' because sometimes we're not saying it from our hearts, we're not saying it with truthfulness. Sometimes it is just on the tongue, sometimes as habit.

So let's implore Allah to give us truthfulness for imploring Him. And setting us on the course of his Rasul [saw].



Jannah

random question

does punctuation go inside the quote or out... ? i need to read one of those style guides again!!

Jannah

#29
salam,

i'll be in NYC iA so won't be able to post tonights, but i'll be back for tomorrow :)

ws

Jannah

Bismillah

Again a few of the wonderful pearls and gems of the Quran. We implore Allah to change our hearts to see the inherent beauty of the words of Allah and to live that beauty in our lives with the wisdom of Allah [swt].

We've completed today, Bi'idhnillah, Surah Naml and Surah Qasas and started Surah Ankabut.  Many of these Surahs start with letters and then talk about the Quran itself. They are drawing our attention to the Quran itself, to the value of the Quran itself. Those of us who claim to have Imaan and believe in God and His words, messages and the messengers of those words, ought to pay attention very seriously to what is said. Sometimes because of our own concerns we might be in a state of boredom or laziness. We should ask Allah for refuge from that and to ask Allah to make us always alert when the Quran is read. This is a reminder first to myself and then all of you.

From Surah Naml, a reflection. Allah tells us about Musa and then about Dawud and Suleiman [as] and though their stories, Allah is the creator of cause and effect, the creator of means and what the means is meant to relate to. Allah changes and creates through means and without means.

The very laws we study and observations we make from cause leading to effect, that itself is His creation. The cause and means is a creation. The effect is a creation. And a relationship between the two is a creation. And Allah at any time can change that. And thus we are not meant to worship creation. It is not just an angel or human being, Jinn or thing, but even conceptions, concepts, ideas. We end up worshiping them, when inside of our minds and hearts we become so strongly, almost religiously, attached to them. In their presence we become comfortable, without them uncomfortable. Because of my habit of seeing the means lead to this or that, I become so entrenched with that I forget the Creator Himself!

Surah Naml has an indication of this. An ant talks and communicates in ways special to its own genus, and Allah made Suleiman [as] understand that.  In the course of our habits that does not happen. Allah makes him understand in ways Allah did not describe to us how. He made him understand the communication of the ants, the birds, and even his Qalb and the Qalb of Dawud was made to be aware of and hear the Tasbeeh of even inanimate objects let alone animals, like mountains, rocks and trees. Allah made them understand that, feel that and see that, while others don't.

Then Allah [swt] tells us about that story of Suleiman when he ordered some Jinn to bring the throne of the queen of Sheba. "Who amongst you will bring me the throne of the Queen of Sheba before she arrives?" One special powerful Ifreet said, "I can bring it to you now before you even stand from your seat and I am able to do that and am trustworthy."

"Said the one who has knowledge of the book, 'I shall bring it to you before you blink'". The speed here isn't 'when he brought it', there's no 'and then'. It's immediately he saw the throne standing in front of him. SubhanAllah. This is the one who has knowledge of the book. Some people talk about equations, solving the equations of space-time, and folding of space-time. They still have not resolved those yet. Allah knows. Even in science, it's not science fiction; theoretically it's possible to fold space. It's right there without anyone moving or doing anything. And Allah has ways that we don't have knowledge of. [swt]

In our habits, four dimensional knowledge, that's impossible, but in other mathematical dimensions it's possible! Now the wonderful thing about this also is what the answer of Suleiman is after all of this. When he was made to listen to the Namlah and the throne was brought to him, what was his response?

It wasn't 'look what I can do', like the Dajjal or like so many human beings. His response was, "O Lord make me grateful to your Grace that you bestowed upon me. Grateful and that I act in accordance to that in righteousness that pleases you and enter me into the fold of your righteous Ibad." To be Abd Saleh to Allah. No matter what you give me, please, make me Shaakir acting in accordance to that in a way that pleases you and make me a righteous person.

When the throne is brought in that miraculous way. What was his answer? "This is from the grace of my Lord." I'm like a beggar, someone gave me, Allah gave me, it's not mine. This is a grace from my Lord to try me, whether I'll be grateful or an ingrate. Grateful and acknowledge it's from Him not from my knowledge and 'hard work', and I don't act in arrogance in that. To act as an Abd in Salah, Dhikr, patience, Sadaqah and all the beautiful qualities He loves. That's Shukr. And Akfur is to be an ingrate, to first not acknowledge it's from Him, that it's from me, my 'hard work'. Second I don't act in obedience to him. The more he gives me the more I should act in Taa'a to him.

Compare that to Qarun in the next Surah, Surah Qasas. Qarun was not given an iota compared to Suleiman, but he was given plenty. He had knowledge, and did business well, was a shrewd businessperson who worked hard. What did he say when he was reminded to be grateful and thankful and use that in good ways and to remember Akhirah and to give? "I was given that by knowledge I had." I was smart, I worked hard, I went to school, I paid money, I had diplomas, I did that, I deserve that. That's the other response.

***************

Allah reminds us of the story of Sayyidna Musa [as] in Surah Qasas along with other wonderful and beautiful lessons. Musa [as] from when he was very young as an infant was in the loving care of Allah [az]. Allah assigned him to be very special. Allah tells us, 'If you rely on me, trust me, give up, surrender to me truly from your heart. I can do to you like what I did for Musa.' "And so shall we reward those who are excellent in conduct." Allah tells Musa's mother breastfeed him, nurse him and if you fear for him, throw him into the sea!! La ilaha illallah, is this the way we act? Understand cause and effect. If you are afraid throw your child in the sea!? Not the way we act. Allah is telling us something.

"And do not fear and do not grieve, we shall bring him back to you." But it required surrender from her, surrender from her heart that He is the Creator of cause and effect. If she only trusted the empirical nature of cause and effect and relied on that, she would not be a Mu'minah ENOUGH. But when she had surrendered Allah showed us through her child what He does. Then Allah takes that child and raises him in the very household of the one who was killing every Muslim of the children of the Israelites. Is that the way we understand cause and effect? Is that the way we operate? Allah is telling us something beyond the very obvious lessons. This lesson. What Allah wills will be. He creates cause, He creates effect. And when He wants that cause will not work or operate.

So Pharaoh who was out to kill every newborn child was made inoperative and Musa [as] is reared in his household with love and care. SubhanAllah! 'I shall fashion you under my gaze. I have cast upon you love from me'. When that occurs, nothing hurts.

"And so we shall reward those who are Muhsinoon." SubhanAllah. And Allah makes him go upon hardships upon hardships of so many kinds. Did Musa live in restlessness and anger or did he live in patience and perseverance and forbearance? And how long was it? 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 year? Few hours? Many of us subjected to a few hours of hardship and Astaghfirullah we are angry even with God!

For years. For YEARS. And Allah took him from a household of power and luxury and where did he end up. In the desert living as what? A shepherd? Imagine tended to by beautiful maids and servants in the household of Firaun to himself attending sheep and goats. Did he miss that? He continued in forbearance. Allah [swt] changed him and he lived in forbearance and Sabr. Then began gradually the gifts of Allah to him.

Wondrous gifts to him [as].

***********

One other reflection. When he was running away from Egypt from Firaun and he got to Madyan and one scene. He's traveling through the desert imagine that. How long was it? Some say 40 days more or less. Not enough water or provision. Tawakkul Allah. He arrives and there's a well and there's many tough men getting their herds to water. And there were two women waiting, for as they said 'our father is an elderly person' they had no brother or men in the family so they had to come themselves Musa saw that with all the fatigue hardship he had for himself. He stops and he gives them first, and he gets their sheep to drink first. Subhanallah look at that. That Akhlaq, mind of spiritual gold.

Then does he ask them for a favor? Does he say what's your name where do u live? Etc SubhanAllah. Nothing. He did that as the wonderful person he was, Nabi, Ulul Azam. So he lets them go and turns to Allah. He could have asked them for reward, a piece of bread, None of that. He turns to Allah [swt]. Imagine that humility. He turned to the shade and invoked Allah, "O Allah I am indeed destitute for whatever good you would like to bring to me."

Did he ask the men that were there? He could have done all that. Allah is telling us something very special about His Ibad. Then another lesson, one of these two ladies. Ya my sisters pay attention to this, Ya Mu'minaat of all who seek nearness to Allah of women. Under these dire circumstances one of these two ladies came to him. How did she come? Like a man, saying 'Hey you?' with a loud voice and fast talk attitude of I'm equal to you I'm a woman I'll show you! 'She came walking Ala Stihya, upon a state of Haya'. You can imagine her walking very softly, very gently, in a shy modest way, lowering her gaze, not talking loud. Her attitude is totally unlike how they show it in the Ten Commandments if you've watched that! As though walking on eggs. 'My father is inviting you, to reward you on account of helping us'. And that's it. Then the narrations of Hadith and Athaar tell us how that occurred. Some say he was not walking behind her. Some say he did not lift his gaze at all until they got home to the father.

Haya' that wonderful characteristic of any human being. Wonderful in particular to the Mu'min and to the Mu'minah most particularly. My dear brothers and sisters, one of the first signs of the Hour, one of the first virtues to be lifted from this Ummah is Haya'.

Then when they arrived at home, I believe another act of Haya'. Now the Haya' with her father. She wants to marry Musa [as]. She didn't say 'I love that man, he's strong he's good he's this or that I'm in love with him and if you don't I'm gonna run away!' La ilaha illallah where we have come.

She said "Ya Abati, O my dear father. Hire him to do work for us'. In those days, the Mahr of a woman is that a man will work for the family for a certain number of years they agree with. She doesn't say marry me to him. She says Istajir, father hire him, the best one you can hire for us is the one strong and trustworthy. That's why the father now speaking to Musa says directly Ureed, "I would like to marry you to one of my daughters in exchange of you working for us..."

The point I'm trying to reflect on here is a point of Haya. "Haya' Kulluhu Khair." "Haya all of it is beautiful", says Rasulullah. For men it is beautiful, for women it is more beautiful. Unfortunately I must warn my brothers and sisters Shaitan comes to us in so many ways. Shaitan and our Nufoos. And there are those who incline to greedy things, to selfish, base things. They would like you to be deviant. To incline away from these values. So I remind myself, and my sisters in particular and my brothers. There are so many ways we are made to leave our Haya', men and women. So let us ask Allah to forgive us and to give us the values of the Anbiya like we are reading here in this wonderful story of Sayyidna Musa [as].





lala marcy

 [slm]

So you type all this out during the talks? Either way, great notes! Thanks for sharing this with us. Indeed, they are all reminders we should all take into practice.

peace and love!!

Jannah

wsalaam,

yeahhh crazy huh! i can only type so fast tho... but hopefully some of the good stuff comes thru :)

ws

Jannah

#33
Bismillah...

Again a few reflections from the many many pearls and treasures of the Quran. By the permission of Allah we have completed Surah Ankabut.

Allah begins by telling us, "Alif Lam Mim. Do human beings think they are going to be left saying they believe, and remain untested? We shall test them. And it shall be very clear who is truthful and who is a liar." That is, who is truthful in their claim of faith in God and His Rasul. Truthful in their attachment, mentally, heart-wise, spiritually to Allah. For many human beings may claim they love and have faith, but if every claimant was given according to his or her claims then many people would claim the lives and wealth of others! We are tested through trials, tribulations, calamities in our friends family, social life, communal life, outside at work. Who amongst us complies with what Allah loves, loves Allah still and obeys Allah despite the difficulties and challenges?

This is a very powerful beginning for a Surah. This Surah is called Ankabut, because Allah is saying don't build your claims like the house of a spider. The web of a spider is very fragile, when tested with hard things it will collapse and break. Thus those of us who build attachments inside of ourselves, away from ourselves, it's like we're building a web of a spider.

Allah says many more wonderful things in that Surah about reliance on Allah and to not be obsessed by what we have, the means or the causes.

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Surah Ar-Rum begins by telling the Muslims of that time, about something futuristic about the state of world power between Persia and the Romans. The Romans were defeated by the Persians and Allah said in a few years the scale will be turned and the Romans will defeat the Persians. And many Ulema said and then the believers will be pleased by the victory of Allah. This is another prophecy of Badr. Indeed, years later the Romans defeated the Persians and in that year Badr took place, and Allah gave victory. This is a prophecy given to his Rasul.[saw]

Allah concludes this Surah by saying 'Be patient despite what you shall see and hear, challenges, distractions, deceptions, attempts of others to convince us that there is no Hereafter.' Allah says 'Wasbir', 'Be patient.' Don't let those that don't have that persuasion abase you or take you lightly. Don't be a featherweight in front of them, frightened by them, their styles of life or their writings.

Make yourself remember the destroyer of passions frequently:  Death. Come back to it. In the Surah before in Ankabut Allay says, "If they had knowledge relative to this life and all what is in it, the Hereafter is THE LIVING thing'. In other words Hayatu Dunya is not living. It's jest, distractions, entertainments relative to Akhirah. Don't give up the reality of the Akhirah for the insignificant, shallow reality of Dunya.

*************


And then comes Surah Luqman after that. A father advising his child, his son with beautiful, wise advice. What does he say? 'Be a doctor, engineer, athlete?' 'If you don't go to that type of schooling then you're not anything.' 'Does your son go to school? --Yes he studies Fiqh, Quran. --No I mean SCHOOL.' I sat in a  place where that was actually said!

Be not only just to your parents, be magnanimous in conduct with them. Allah reminds us of our stages in infancy, embryonic and after, the hardships they went through for us. Then Allah says nothing in this world escapes Him. Allah provides for everything no matter what it is. Then Luqman says, "O my child, establish Salah." Many of us, if our children don't perform Salah, but if they have degrees in school we're so happy. But if they don't have degrees and pray, we're so sad. We think they've done nothing, achieved nothing.

"Enjoin that which is good and forbid that which is evil." At the end of that Surah, there is a powerful ending: "O mankind be conscious of your Lord". Build consciousness of your Lord daily. People struggle for so many things every day. We wake up every day, before Fajr if we have to for work, for 40 years and we're happy! And we struggle to be better and better and be promoted. Then why not, why not struggle to be better with Allah? Tomorrow I'm going to be better and conscious of Allah, better than today. Struggle, that's my aspiration. We've lost that, many of us.

"Then fear a day no parent will be of any avail to any child, and no child will be of any avail to any parent." What is all this that is preoccupying our lives? Give good quality time to our family I'm not against that, but many of us forget the best of whom our time should be given to. In other words, don't let your resources, including your children, make you forget Allah and Akhirah. Don't forget your order of priorities. We live with our children and families, all of us must live together, walking together to Allah [swt]. Whether its my child, my spouse, my mother, my father, myself. "Fear a day in which no one will be of any benefit to anyone, except those who live in awareness of Allah."

What is my aim? Allah is my aim. I shall not do anything that deviates me away from my aim. A man asked Rasulullah (s), 'Give me an advice for which I shall ask no one else.' 'Say Amantu Billah and then be straight'. Meaning my aim has become Allah in my Qalb, my Qalb sees my aim. Then after that walk straight to my aim. And feel that every day, every instance. And thus he's telling him in this very powerful statement, every second be aware of this aim. Don't veer away from the aim until you arrive. Some arrive in this Dunya with their Quloob before Akhirah. And some never. Neither here nor in Akhirah.


Jannah

#34
Bismillah

Again, briefly a few reminders from the many treasures of the Quran...

From Surah Sajdah that we read tonight, Allah tells us of His special Ibaad. When they hear his signs rehearsed, they prostrate themselves and they do not show arrogance or indifference. They also lift themselves up from their beds. Their sides develop a not so kind relationship with the bed, as though their sides don't like beds. They lift themselves up when most of us want to sleep or are sleeping. This is pertaining to those who wake up at night say the scholars. They do that with sincerity with Allah. That has great reward to the heart for those who do that with devotion and persistence.

Also mentioned by the Ulema are those who do Nawafil between Maghrib and Isha. They are in Dhikr and Salah. And also after Isha until the time of Fajr. And those that wake up for Fajr, and come to Jamah on time. And those who come to Isha in Jama instead of performing it at home and sleeping, which is halal. But these ones, their sides leave that, they develop a relationship of indifference with the beds. Allah describes them as such and Allah tells us at the end of that, they don't know what Allah is concealing for them of refreshing coolness to the eyes as a reward. Because their Ibadah was hidden in privacy at night, so Allah has for them hidden, unknown rewards that he did not explicitly describe and expose. Only Allah knows.

And also the Ulema of the Quloob would notice those who are persistent in Qiyamul lail and Dhikr at times where the average of us do the average. Allah has in store for them, for their hearts, knowledge of Him and states of Ahwal with Him that only Allah knows. That also is a reward for those in devout worship of Allah unlike the average amongst us that prefer to do the average that people amongst us do.

*********

In Surah Ahzab, Allah says "Indeed there is for you in the messenger of Allah a beautiful example for you in everything." This is a beautiful, powerful ayah with such lessons for us. We will mention only a few of them. We see that Oswa, example, and it's a living example for us. There is something very interesting in this Ayah. That special Oswa will only be seen, enjoyed, and loved by those who have two qualities:

1. The first is Rajaa in Allah and for the day of Judgement. To have desire to connect with Him and in Akhirah.

2. Second those who are intensely in Dhikr of Allah [az], continuously, always, very frequently in Dhikr of Allah.

Only the ones who have tasted this, especially the last one, know what this means. Those who in their aim of Allah practice a lot of Dhikr not only with their tongues but with their Quloobs have discovery in their hearts and He becomes truly the love of their hearts. Then it becomes easy to follow the Rasul (s). Without why, ifs and buts. Without trying to take the words of Rasululllah and give them meanings consistent with our Hawa.

Let us implore Allah [swt] to give our hearts desire and Raja for Him and His abode on the Day of Judgement, and let us implore Allah frequently to make us of those frequently in Dhikr with our hearts and minds. Then perhaps we will be of those who will follow his Oswa. [saw]


Jannah

#35
Salaam,

I didn't take notes for tonight's cuz we're staying overnight inshaAllah, but i'm going to put up last night's inshallah (it's very long) soon. just very busy right now.

ws


Jannah

Bismillah...

May Allah let us benefit from what we hear and read. We have completed last night Surah Saba, Surah Fatir and today Yasin, Saffat, Saad and we started Zumar. A few reflections Bi'idhna t'ala.


*************

From Surah Saba:

Allah tells us in that Surah about Sayyidna Dawud and Sulaiman and many other wonderful lessons. He tells us [swt] that He gave both of them of His gifts of worldly matters, power and spiritual knowledge.
Allah tells us about Sulaiman and what He gave him of authority and power. And then Allah says (again spiritual and worldly power), 'We made available for him molten minerals, iron copper and so on,' in addition to spiritual gifts. He invoked Allah to have power, a kingdom that no one would have after him. So Allah subjected to him the wind, creatures beyond our sight, Jinn and Shayateen.

Then Allah says and speaks to both Sulaiman and his father Dawud. "O family of Dawud work in righteousness, be thankful by deeds." Shukrul Amal is when we use whatever Allah bestowed upon us whether spiritually or worldly in the way Allah loves.  If I use what Allah gave me, my legs, my hands, my organs in a way that Allah does not love then I am NOT thankful. I am not Shaakir! If I am not a person who uses his gifts in Ibadah, Sawm, Dhikr, Salah, Qiyam, the works of the heart, I'm not thankful to Allah [swt].

Rasulullah (s) as his daily habit spends his night in Qayaam for so long until his heels were swollen and broken. Aisha, our mother, asks him, 'Why, why Rasulullah, you don't have to do that, your station with Allah is exalted, the nearest. Allah has forgiven you everything.' What does he answer? "Should I not be then an oft-grateful servant?" Shakoora -- siratul mubalagha. So his Qiyam and Ibadah are par excellence, THE acts of Shukr.


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From Surah Fatir:

Allah tells us of a scene of the Hereafter. Very powerful very moving. Those in the fire of Hell on the day of Judgement. (May Allah protect all of us.) They will be acknowledging their guilt , pleading with Allah to give them respite, another chance. To bring them back to life and they will act in righteousness. In this scene Allah [swt] answers them. And again these scenes are as though they've already taken place already, in the past tense, yet it's the future. "Haven't I given you enough years in your life, sufficient enough for those to remember?" Haven't I given you 40 years or 50 years or 70? It wasn't just a week, a few years, 15 years where you're not accountable. I gave you enough years so you were accountable, enough age so you're Mukallaf. And I sent you warners. You had him [saw], you've heard about him, what he taught, you heard about his way and that he's the way to me. 

What else as Nazeer, warner has Allah sent to us? Many Ulema say white hair! For those of us who live long enough depending upon one's genetic makeup. White hair that grows in my beard or in my hair is that reminder to me. We may not like that but the countdown has started. As a matter of fact the countdown started the day we were born. Once I've lived one year that means one year less, 2 years less then 3 years less, then my appointed time. Some of us wait until we retire to begin to live. To really as they say, take a good shot at life. 'I'm gonna start living the way I like.' that's what they wait for, to retire to really live Dunya.

A few days from now we shall read how, among the early ones, when a person reaches 40 years, they retire to Allah. They've lived long enough in Dunya! Now let us take Akhirah very seriously. Many of us when we are 40 we still want to be children! We want toys, we cry for toys, we fight for toys and we kill for toys if u know what I mean. The warner had come to you. And some of us when we look in the mirror and see it we want to dye it.

As the poet said,
"Had I known that I wouldn't be honoring this guest I would have concealed that guest."


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From Surah Yasin:

There are many powerful verses in Surah Yasin including one of the last ones: "Does not the human being see, remember and reflect that We created him/her from Nutfah (an ejaculated thing) and in another Ayah (despised fluid). Most of us are making a face, ill, ick. Allah could have created us from iron, from something strong from the beginning, but look at His Hikmah so we remember at every stage who we are. He created us from that, so Allah says, "Don't the human beings see, how we originally created them from Nutfah, yet they turn as an avowed litigant against Allah, an enemy disputant." We learn and grow a little bit, develop a bit, and have beards and wealth and power and we start arguing about God. 'God doesn't exist' and we argue with some people 'why does Allah do this to me' 'I should have this, be like this, etc.'

The manifest disputant against Allah should remember where we are. Remember our origin. That is our origin. Nutfatin Nathirah and in the end we are Jeefatan Kaabirah. A stinking body and in between when we're living we still carry inside of us Khabeeth. We walk everywhere with it! Subhanallah we carry the stink inside. Imagine some of us, we perfume outside and what do we think we are. Imagine if we have spiritual x-ray vision to see inside. Subhanallah. Allah reminds us of that. Know who you are. Such a human being says there is no God, says I know better than Muhammad [saw], than the messengers and the prophets of God. Such a human being says I have so much power and I can have all power and thus I have no need for God!

May Allah [swt] help us realize where we are, our right place


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From Surah Saffat:

There are many wonderful lessons that Allah talks to us about. One reflection is the story of Yunus in this Surah. You know the story of Jonah, Yunus [as]. He was swallowed by a whale. Was it a huge whale was it a blue whale? Allah knows. In that time there might have been other creatures. The blue whale is the biggest creature on earth and he was kept alive by the Qudrah of Allah in those darknesses inside the whale. And what does Allah say? What saved him?

Dhikr of Allah [swt].

The person who is in Dhikr inside of the whale, would he be a person who was never in Dhikr outside of the whale? In the moment of distress we are as we truly are. Our personality appears when we are in distress. What do I remember first? That's my personality. Dhikr was the first thing that came to his heart, his tongue. Incessantly. So when we die, when we are dying, the way we lived should be the way we are in the Barzakh. If we lived a life of Dhikr our life in Barzakh will be one of Dhikr. It is said when the angels come to the grave and makes the person sit up, the person who is always in Dhikr when he/she wakes up the first thing he/she says: La ilaha illalllah wahdahu la shareeka lah. When they sit up in the grave La ilaha illlah! The angels then say "Let's leave. That's the way he has lived." So it's said naturally Allah inspires them to be like that in their Qabr.

Something wonderful we've read in the stories of Ibn al qayyim and others of the Salihoon. When Thabit ibn Bunani was laid in his grave with mud bricks and they were about to live, one of those bricks fell. Allah wanted them to see something. Lo and behold both of them saw Thabit ibn Bunani sitting in his grave in Salah. They were men of spiritual knowledge. They know what the Asrar of the Quloob are. So they went to the sister to inquire about him. When they inquired in this strange way she said, "Why what did u see?" They told her and she said as long as she could remember every night for 40 years he'd be in Qiyamul lail and after he used to call Allah in prayer and say 'Oh Lord if you have given any one of your Ibad Salah in his grave, please give that to me.' Every night when he finishes his Salah that was his Dua always.

See, we are in the grave the way we are outside the grave.

The belly of the whale of Jonah was to teach us how Jonah's life was.

In the darkness of despair of some challenges, hardships, light for us will be Dhikr of Allah. Dhikr of Allah and a lot of Dhikr.


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From Surah Saad:

A very powerful story about Dawud [as] and many other beautiful reflections can be drawn  from this Surah. Allah [swt] made mountains and birds be in Dhikr of Allah with Dawud.

Also the story of Ayyub [as]. Ayyub was tried by the calamity of disease and in every capacity of what everyone does normally. Allah [swt] took all of that and he had disease for years, some say for 18 years. He never despaired and he never forgot Dhikr of Allah. He was always in Dhikr. Always. Trusting in Allah, relying on Allah, accepting what Allah [swt] gave him. Not challenging that, not debating that, worrying about that or complaining, but accepting the Qada of Allah [swt]. And when he ultimately surrendered, Allah fashioned him anew. New body and new Qalb, made his Qalb even stronger.

Destiny was decreed for Ayyub [as]. Allah did not give him more than what was decreed. It was hidden from Ayyub. As the best things for us are hidden from us. Thus what happens to us WILL Happen. Either we are patient or we are restless. The disaster is if we respond in restlessness when we are challenged by difficulties, or if we respond in arrogance when we are challenged with prosperity.

What Ayyub had at the end was always the decree of Allah. As Rasulullah (s) says the person who accepts the decree of Allah, for such there will be satisfaction and there will be a pleasing state. For the person complaining, restless, such a person will have displeasure from Allah and even in this life will be displeased.

Think about it when we are befallen by difficulties, when things don't go the way we like, when faced by challenges, what happens to us? It happens to all of us. What happens inside? Pressure, anxieties. Isn't this punishment, torment itself? If when those things happened we accepted those things, we wouldn't be distressed. Call that psychology if you want. It's only when we don't accept that, it gets worse, we will SUFFER because all of that means we have not accepted His Qada.

Once we do, even in Dunya we shall be at ease, not in pain, anxiety or torment. Some of us go to the extent of losing our minds. Some of us go to the extent of becoming unbelievers. At least have Sabr. If we don't have Rida may Allah give us Sabr. But Rida is the best, Rida is the station of the Awliya.



Jannah

#37
[sl]

I didn't take notes this night cuz I wanted to concentrate on Ibadah but here are some quick reminders from another sister.

[wl]

=====================

Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Ultimate knowledge is knowledge to know to submit to God in ibadah during the night, in qiyaam, who perform salaah.

Yaa ibadi who have imaan, 'BE conscious of your lord'

those who do righteousness in the way of ihsan in this duniya. they will have a great reward in the hereafter
truly the persevering patient ones, allah swt will give them a reward without account.

make it a point to remember allah when u are in a state of ease, when it is easy to forget. when things go bad, we pray, and when things are good we are apt to forget.

in our ibada there shall be difficulty and challenges. it will be hard. and when we don't have wealth and power, people may not look at us fondly.

don't be fooled, deceived, dissuaded for your reward will be 'ghairi hisaab' in the hereafter if you do in fact patiently persevere.

oh my servants, who have overwhelmed themselves with sins....with disobedience, excessive were they in their negative conduct; now that you have become abd do not despair from the loving mercy of allah swt.

never say, i am a lost person. never say i have no hope. never let the so many fumblings to lead us not to come to allah swt. never let shaytan tell us,
'you have done too much for god to accept you'

do not despair in the loving mercy and merciful love of allah swt. verily allah forgives all sins. He's saying, 'COME to me, no matter how many horrible things you've done, if you come to me sincerely and truthfully, with the weight of the globe of earth in sins, i shall come to you with the same of forgiveness!

if a human being knows this about allah through rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa alihi wa sallam. for this, rectification is worth it. even more than for the sake of being safe from hellfire. this is opportunity to have allah swt come toward us RUNNING.

before there shall come to you, punishment again in a state when you are unaware. punishment comes unexpectedly when we die, and then what will we say when we are resurrected. beware that you will say this when it is too late, 'ya hasrataa' (miserable anxiety, agonizing pressure). because of the opportunities i had missed of reaching closer to allah swt. Allah swt, has shown us the way, he HAS guided us, he has presented islam. now it is up to us.

how many of us have had difficulty in our lives? how many times did we go begging and pleading to allah swt to help us? to rescue us? and how many times did he save us? and how many times did we forget to thank him as fervently as we pleaded in desperation?

let's pray for each other. let's pray for one another. let's pray that allah swt liberate our hearts from this habit of procrastination of tending to further our relationship. to avoid lies and bad habits, and to take a firm position to change and live our lives in truthfulness with allah swt by our sides.
to live our life in this duniya as a life of generosity to others and for sincerity in all of our actions.

let's be reminded that we are going to die. nobody lives forever. TAKE a stand and take control of your life. make the most of today, right now. 


Jannah

[sl]

btw of there are some Arabic words that you don't know the meaning of please write!! There are tons of them and I didn't know what to translate...

[wl]

Jannah


Jannah

Bismillah...

Part I:

Tonight is the night of the 27th of Ramadan and in the knowledge of Allah this could be the most honored night of the year. As we've been learning all this month, the month of Ramadan is very special, the last 10 nights are very special, the odd nights are special and the night of Qadr is special. I pray that all of us here can spend more time in Ibadah Dua, Dhikr and internal reflection, the more the better. It's once a year. It's not a regular hardship. It's just once a year. The heart that loves Allah, how can it feel in hardship when it is in Ibadah? The more love for Allah the less feeling there is of Takkaluf and Takleef in Ibadah. (burden and struggle)

And thus I remind myself and you to renew our Niyyah to bring that about inside of us and to do that constantly. As long as we struggle to do that we are in Ibadah even if we don't achieve that. We should struggle to have Sidq all the time, and especially tonight. Sidq in our Salah, sincerity devotion and all of that and desire inside of us, forgetting anything else. Try to build that Sidq inside of us in our Sujood, Ruku, Qiyaam, Dua, Dhikr. Inshallah t'ala.

As Rasulullah (s) taught us it is advisable to invoke Allah with that which Rasulullah taught us. 'Allahumma innaka afu'an, tuhubbul afwa fafuanna.' And try to build Sidq through the night. Whether you are here or at home, you leave or stay. Try to build Sidq in that Dua. I advise myself and you to dispose of those legitimate forms of conversation and those of entertainment etc. I advise all of us to converse with Allah through Dhikr and Salah. InshaAllah.

There are windows of time, windows of blessings of opportunities that we wait for as Rasulullah instructed us to wait for that spiritual breeze from Allah [swt]. There are special times during which that type of spiritual breeze is expected and waited for. Such as the odd nights of the last 10 nights of Ramadan. Most particularly the night of the Qadr in addition to other opportunities that Allah affords us such as the middle of the night, the last 1/3 of the night, after every Salah, in Sujood, after Arafat during Hajj and right after breaking the fast. Allah always gives, always gives. There are so many opportunities. Not only should we expect those special times and places, but we should also make our hearts ready for that gift. Allah as a gifter is always there, always giving. The question is are we a receiver? Have we opened our hearts to receive from Allah? When our Quloob are not in a receiving state they simply don't land on our Quloob because they're not ready to receive.

And thus a wonderful offer Allah has for us and I felt like sharing with many of you this wonderful Qudsi Hadith that Rasulullah [saw] taught us. It might help us to clear our hearts a little more to receive the gifts of Allah.

'Ya ibadi, O my ibaad (those devout servants of mine, those who seek me), verily I have made oppression aggression forbidden to Me. And thus I have made it forbidden to you, so do not do injustice to one another.' In other words He's telling us that He can do anything He wants to because everything else is a creation. Allah is the only one, is absolute no one else owns anything else but Him and He made injustice forbidden to Him, so what about you who own nothing. Whatever you have is a steward, vicegerency from Him. You don't even own yourself. Then understand this and do not do injustice to one another. Do not do injustice to anything. And if we want a more general definition, justice is putting things where they belong. Like if I threw garbage on the floor or spoke a word not good, if I've killed someone unjustly, if I spoke a word to someone that hurt someone wrongfully and so on. Do not be unjust to any creature of Allah.

And then He continues to say in this Hadith Qudsi: 'All of you are lost, except the one whom I show the path to. Therefore seek to find the path from Me. Ask me for guidance and I shall show you the path to guide you.' But how many times truly do we realize we're lost and how many times do we sincerely and truthfully ask Him with state of full surrender and Sidq to show us the path. Instead of arrogantly and with vanity we think we know and we are obsessed by what we think we know.

'O my Ibaad, O my servants, all of you are hungry, seek food from Me, I shall give you.' Of course Allah often times feeds us even though we don't ask him. That's His Rahmaa, merciful love He's given all creatures. He asks us to realize that. When we realize that then the Rizq of Ta'am will be from him and not from our Nafs. Because we can have things from our Nafs and we will be punished for that. For example if I have a lot of food and I use it, but if I truly ask Him and through surrender, it will be Halal and will be a blessing. It will not cause me to be arrogant and I will not abuse it, because I'll be eating it by Him, not by me. Let us not be deceived 'well I have food, why should I ask'. Have you ever thought about the way you've acquired what you have. We should not be deceived by what we have. So Allah says, 'Ask Me for nutrition. I feed you.'

'Seek clothing from Me. I shall clothe you". 'I have clothes, I can buy all the clothes I want', but as we said, you don't know what kind of clothes you have, Halal or Haram. The money with which you purchased it Halal or Haram, is he pleased with it or not.

When He clothes me, it's not like when I clothe me. Do you know what I mean? By my violent desires I clothe myself and I still remain naked. Many people are clothed on the day of Judgement and that clothing will be burned on their skin. Ya Lateef!

What is the best of clothing? Taqwa. 'Wa libasa taqwa, dhalika khair.' Instead of clothes dubious in its origin and I have it but I am naked from Taqwa. So says Allah seek clothing from Me I shall clothe you. And the one that Allah clothes even if it's one single thing. He /she is clothed with Taqwa with that, but he/she who clothes by himself/herself shall remain naked.

'Ya ibadi, you commit sins by day and by night, and I am the one who forgives all sins. Seek my forgiveness I shall forgive you.' I shall forgive you. Think. Don't be an arrogant fool as we often are. Don't say I don't have time. Don't be busy with other things and then when you do ask, be truthful, be Saadiq. The person who is in a hurry to leave Salah, their Dua is most likely not Saadiq. Sidq is in the heart. It's a state that humbles the heart. It makes the heart aware of his/her insignificance in front of Allah, her destitution and her need. So how can he/she be in a hurry to leave!

'Ya ibadi, O my servants, you will never, never reach the level at which you'll be able to hurt Me and you'll never reach the level to benefit Me, even if you're put together.' And then He even gives us more hope and love. Even if we think of benefiting or harming spiritually. Because there are those who think they've reached a level that God benefits some way divine of the Ibadah of human beings! As we need him, he needs us! Authobilllah! Yet Allah says,

'Ya ibadi, O my servant, if the first of you to the last of you, from the first of creation until the end of it, billions of you, to the human of you to the jinn of you, and each one of them had a heart filled with beautiful Imaan of all the hearts, that will not add to my Kingdom anything. And if each had a heart of wickedness and evilness that is the sum total of all the hearts of wickedness, it will not diminish from my sovereignty, kingdom anything.'

'If all of you Jinns and humans from the binning to the end of it and if all was collected in one place and each one asks Me anything they want to ask, and I give each one of them, his or her Mas'ala (desire) that will not diminish what I have except what a needle takes from a sea of water when it's dipped into it and taken out.' This is a note of hope and love from Allah. Then he says be responsible.

Look how much forgiveness and love I have, so be responsible. 'O my Ibaad you are your deeds, I record them for you, your deeds and then I give you them in fullness. Then if you find with Me Khair, be thankful to Allah and if you find other than that you have no one to blame but yourselves.' If you find Khair say Alhamdulllah, because the way He awards is more than what we deserve. Don't' say 'I made it' say Alhamdullah.

Tonight is the night of hope. A night of Rahmaa. The gate of Allah is open the widest. Let us be truthful, implore Him to be truthful and struggle to be truthful. And the best thing to ask from Allah is what He loves us to be. Not what I love, but what He loves for me. He loves me to be obedient, to be good, to love him, to be righteous, to be consistent and so on. Let me ask Him for that. Not for asking Him about wealth and power. Those are not necessarily things He loves. He gives wealth and power to the ugly and beautiful, morally speaking. He gives to those who love Him and don't love Him, the believer and non believer. To ask him that is to be not any different from those He doesn't love. He didn't say don't ask me that, but if we truly love Him it's better to ask Him for what He loves.

Allahmumma innaka afuan tuhibbul afwa fafuanna....


Part II:

will post soon inshallah


Jannah

Bismillah...

Ramadan is basically over. It has gone so fast. There is a feeling already of loss... of missing something. I can really feel the air changing the last two days. Wallahul atheem. This is a sort of spiritual evidence about the Barakah of Ramadan. It's incredible. Inside you change. Your notion of time changes. Your energies change. And thus these wonderful last 10 nights were for change. If we were to summarize what we learned:

1.   Tawheed  Allah– That we affirm Allah's oneness
2.   A consequence of that in the path to Allah is the change of our Akhlaq inside of us.
3.   Consequently change outside in our Afaal - our deeds

Patient or not patient, forgiving or not forgiving, just and fair, or unjust, unfair, humble modest, bashful or arrogant and conceited ostentatious, content or greedy. The Deen of Allah [swt] intended to change us inside. Performing Salah is wonderful and beautiful but there are many ways to perform Salah. Some of us perform Salah but it's external, we don't change inside, we continue to believe the Deen is an external exercise of obligations. And we continue to be what we are inside. And thus our acts and our deeds vis a vis the creatures of Allah, humans, animals, plants, Jinns, angels do not change either.

We need to be conscious of this and ask Allah for help with it. If we continue to live our lives routinely and we never change then it will be too late. For we are to come to Allah with hearts cleaner than we started. The ultimate encounter with Allah on the Day of Judgement will be with our hearts. Thus I and you, men and women, brothers and sisters, young and old must daily be observing ourselves. Not only about our external Afaal, and we must perform our external Afaal properly and legally, but that is not enough. It's necessary but not sufficient. Our Quloob must be clearer. We didn't pray before we have to begin to pray. We were not patient before we must learn patience. We didn't have Haya' before we must learn to have Haya'. We didn't have Kanaa; we were arrogant and so on.

We must change.

Ramadan is about that Barakah Allah gives us to change. Allah, in what we have recited, said to us so much. We human beings and others follow a course of seeking prosperity, wealth and power, success so to speak. We do that and the way we spend our time and set our priorities is all about that. Those of us who plan it that way or just imitate others that do that. Allah says you are all losers in the way you plan and the way you prioritize your time. You are all loser, if you do what you do away from the Dhikr of Allah. in other words, we want to spend more time in something we think gives us victory, wealth and that is really losing when you are unmindful of the Dhikr of Allah [swt].

'O you who have attained faith, don't let your wealth, your resources, your children distract you from the Dhikr of Allah. The one whose pursuit of wealth and power distracts them from Dhikr, thinking they want to win, are the losers.'

This is the Qawl of Allah. Whether some of us humans accept it or not is a different matter. That's what He says. And those that believe in God know He is the infinite source of all that is beautiful and truly prosperous. He is the Creator of infinite happiness. They know that. Ask them what have you won if you lost Allah. They will say nothing, but you lost everything.

Some of us have forgotten that. We need to be reminded and told and sometimes taken by the arm and pulled away from what we were doing to enjoy that divine company and not to lose everything.

And Allah says, 'There is no calamity that occurs in yourselves or outside of you, anywhere on earth, a challenge, difficulty hardship something we don't like, something not agreeable to us, internal or external, except by the decree and permission of Allah [swt]'.

Now when things like that happen to us, things difficult and challenging, what happens usually to us? Stress, anger, we're uncomfortable. Are we in a state of ambiguity or clarity?

'In that state the one who has Imaan in Allah, his/her heart will be guided.' He or she will think the right thing, will feel the right thing, won't do the wrong thing, won't do injustice, will not feel lost. That Noor in struggling to change themselves, to detach their heart from being a slave to other than Allah when there are Musibahs, she will be able to see clear.

How often do we pass by these wonderful Ayats, with these wonderful practical meanings and just pass them by.
Our hearts have not woken up to see that. May Allah illuminate our Quloob.

May these two days or three, whatever is left, may Allah make the last of this month the best of it. May he accumulate for us all the Khair, may he give us the momentum of what He loves. When this beautiful friend of Ramadan leaves us, waving one more time, may we still have love and desire for Allah.

Ameen.

Jannah

Bismillah...

Tomorrow is our last night of Taraweeh. We implore Allah to give us steadfastness in our obedience to Him. To forgive us, to give us strength and resolve to walk in this life. When we leave this Masjid, at home, at work, at school, to walk away with light inside of us, light from Him inside of us.

Everything Allah has given us of resources, worldly resources all of that keeps us as human beings captives and hostages. What we have actually of matters of this world keeps us captive. Can we understand that? Actually what we have we're hostage to, except in what case?

'Every soul, person, self is hostage by that which it has, earns, possesses, except Ashabul Yameen -- those men and women who's limbs, time and priorities are oriented towards Allah in the right way.'

This will be exposed on the Day of Judgement and these Ashabul Yameen will talk to those others who were imprisoned by their possessions. Allah gives the Ashabul Yameen Naeem in Jannah in Akhirah. This is Ilm of Ghayb of scenes that will occur in that dimension. They will address those in the wrath of Allah [swt] and ask,
"What has led you to be in this abode of Hell?"

All of this will occur Allah tells us, this is for us to learn not for us to rejoice for no one knows which abode will be for him/her. We are not yet to judge those. This is for us. We don't know. Allah is telling us and to tell the world so we don't end up that way. No soul knows where it will end up, the general rule is.

The others will respond and say 4 things:

1. "First we were not of those that prayed, turned to Allah in Salah. We neglected that"
2. "We used to not feed the poor."
3."We used to enter into arguments." – I think it's this or that and we embellish our intellectual arguments in whatever matter in Deen. Itabaaul Hawa. Then we say 'this is what God says', or 'this is better than what God says' or 'we don't care what God says!'
4. "We used to reject and deny and not believe in the Day of Resurrection" We did not have firm belief. That includes those that didn't believe at all and those that doubted until certitude came upon them. And what is certitude here? Death, when we died. For that is when everything we don't know becomes certain. Death is a metaphor for no one will escape it, everyone will die, and after that everything will become certitude. SubhanAllah.

Thus Allah tells us to develop that consciousness of Akhirah inside of us and keep away from those elements that distract us from this fact.

Allah describes that moment when death comes upon the human being and then one would say "Is there a cure, a doctor?" None of that will help. And as I was reading this what came to mind are scenes of doctors in hospitals. When the patient is in the hospital and they did what they could, some of them humbly acknowledge, and in the end those who were humble doctors and those who are fools the same, see the wife or son or someone comes and says "please doctor do something", and he looks down at her and lowers his gaze and says "I can't do anything. I can't do anything". And he just leaves. "Is there a doctor" Ruqya. Is there a healer? None at that point. That's Yaqeen.

That we all have to go through.

Rasulullah (s) says, "Be frequently in remembrance of the destroyer of passions, because it's the most common, most certain thing. And yet we deliberately forget it most of the time. But if we remember it most of the time in the right way we should have the best life possible in the state of Yaqeen.

My dear brothers and sisters, may the blessings of this month bring Noor to our hearts and increase our faith in Akhirah. May it be an increase to our devotion and to the correct orientation of our hearts to Allah. May Allah, as we finish these last two days, not let us leave this beautiful month of Ramadan except with a renewed vigor to travel to Allah [swt]. May we think more seriously and qualitatively about Akhirah and Yaqeen.




Jannah

 [sl]

Today the shaikh did mostly tafseer of Surah 'ala and it was very short then admonished us to keep our hearts motivated and straight even after ramadan. InshaAllah I'll add it after Eid sometime next week.

[wl]

ps

dhikra

i know that maybe with all the excitement of Eid you forgot the last installment :)  And though Ramadan is over I still await the last words of this blessed time.

Jannah

wsl,

you are one dedicated sister dhikra ma'shaAllah :) i'll try to add it tonight inshallah!!! hope your eid was awesome!

ws

Jannah

Bismillah...

I pray all of you have memorized Surah 'Ala. It's a command from Allah to Rasulullah and consequently to all of us. It's a command we be in glorification and exultation of the name of Allah. That we be in Tasbeeh of the Most High [swt]. 'Sabbihismirabbikal 'Ala.'

Allah describes to us His favors and His bounties in the context of His Lordship [swt]. 'We shall guide you in a way that is of ease, not of hardship, not a way that leads to the human beings harm or demise. A way that is clear and beautiful.' Thus Allah commands the human beings to give due right to the human being and remind them if the benefit helps them. That is, some will take them, others will deny them and not take them, and ridicule them perhaps.

As to the one that has awe in his/her heart for Allah and for the promise of what Allah has in store for the human being on the Day of Judgement, of the unknown, that person will pay heed. That person will remember and will be benefited.

As to the most miserable one, he will keep away from it. Miserable because he/she will have denied him/herself a very necessary element to their own happiness, safety and eternal bliss in their Hereafter. The person who rejects all of that is truly miserable of the truly miserable ones. Allah invites them to happiness and they reject that based upon arrogance. That miserable one will have the abode of the fire of Hell. He will be prostrating down in the fire of Hell.

Then Allah tells us about the opposite. 'Qad aflaha man tazakka wa dhakara rasmahi fasallah'. 'Indeed have reached Falah, success, safety and happiness the one who Tazakka', cleanses him/herself from their egoistic shares, selfish inclinations from its passions, aliments, stains, from that which keeps the hearts veiled and obscured from experiencing the divine joy of being in that state. The person that cleanses his Nafs is a person that shall attain Falah – success, happiness, serenity, tranquility, paradise, in this Dunya and in Akhirah.

'And the person who Dhakkara (there's a wow 'so also', then fa means 'consequently') is in Salah.' If we don't love Salah, our claims of love and Dhikr are just claims. We are not of those in Falah, regardless of what we claim of Tazkiyah. Thus there are those who prefer other forms of invented worship to Salah. Those whose hearts are filled with true Dhikr, they love to be in Salah. Salah is their Qurat 'Ayn like Rasulullah [saw] who was master of doing Dhikr. Salah was the most beloved Ibadah to him. This IS the path of happiness. This is the recipe of happiness.

What does Allah say after that? 'Bal.' What does Bal mean? It means 'however', 'but', that there's something else. In other words you human beings, most of you, it's not what you prefer to do. You prefer Hayatud Dunya. And He reminds us 'and the home of the Hereafter is best and eternal.' 'But you prefer and incline to this Dunya.'

Rasulullah was asked by a Sahabi: 'Ya Rasulullah teach me something that when I do it, Allah loves me and the human being loves me. He said: 'Renounce the world, the glamour, the wealth of the world that is inside of you, to love it and be attached to it, Allah will love you. And renounce what people possess and they will love you.' What people have, renounce it. Never ask any one of them what they have. In their heart and in their tongue. Be ever independent in what they have, they will love you.  But if we ask human beings and ask each other (and we do often), the more we give, the less we show love to them. We love those who are completely independent from us. They don't ask us, they give us.

You prefer this Dunya so you not truly seek to be loved by Allah.

May Allah cleanse our hearts. May Allah, by His Rahmaa, not by our struggle or efforts, beautify and cleanse our hearts. That we live in full harmony with Allah and as a consequence in harmony will all His creatures and that is the essence of Tawheed [swt].

We implore him to keep the momentum going. We should each make a pledge to ourselves to continue this legacy of Ramadan. We do not break from Salah, we do not break from Ramadan. We beg Allah to keep the momentum going even if it's for part of it. Let's make a pledge to read the Quran a few times a year at least and to ponder its meaning and to have a schedule, a diet of Ibadah, of worship to Allah. Including the worship of observing our hearts and not allowing our moods to go wild and not indulging our own habits and customs, cultures, our own likes and dislikes. We beg Him to not to do that and to keep us strong, steady, patient, with a beautiful growing dynamic relationship with His book and His Dhikr [swt].


Ameen. Here ends Ramadan 2007. I ask your forgiveness for any mistakes in the transmission of these words. I pray that we all benefit from them and live to share the blessings of another Ramadan together.



dhikra

#47
 [slms] ahhhhh a beautiful end to a beautiful beginning.... and it came just when I was in a state of needing it.  thank you...jazakAllahu khairan....

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