Friday, April 29, 2011

Crying Before Allah

Crying Before Allah

 

By: A M Mujahid
 
  
 
 

When was the last time you cried? Not a few drops of salty water from your eyes or the odd tear that slip down your face while watching a tragic event.

I am talking about warm tears of the heart; tears that sting your face because they have been there so long and their bitter saltiness has hurt your skin.

When was the last time you cried "Like a Baby"?
 
Tears flow when we remember how much Almighty Allah gives us and how much we disobey Him. Though we can never give Almighty Allah His due thanks for the countless blessings He bestows upon us, we blatantly exceed the limits He has set and we commit many sins; major and minor. We tend to backbite and hurt one another, not stand up for the truth, treat our family badly, lie, cheat, do good deeds merely to show off etc.
 
A sincere believer who fears, loves, and is close to Almighty Allah cannot help but cry before his Lord, the All-Merciful, the All-Aware. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) is reported to have said, "Two (kinds of) eyes will not be touched by the Fire: an eye that wept out of fear of Allah and an eye that spent the night guarding in the cause of Allah." (At-Tirmidhi)
 
The blessed month of Ramadan, particularly the last ten days thereof, represents a real opportunity for the believers to get closer to Almighty Allah and cry out of fear and love for Him. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related that with the start of the last 10 days of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. something Arabs do to indicate hard work), pray all night, and wake up his family for voluntary night Prayers. (Bukhari and Muslim)
 

Out of His boundless mercy and compassion, Almighty Allah opens for us a way out of every problem we may encounter, thereby easing our burdens. Despite that, we persist in our disobedience to Him and take His mercy for granted.

Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said that he would rather shed two drops of tears out of fear of Allah than give a thousand dinars in charity.

 

Tearful Eyes of a Strong Believer
 
The most telling example of a man who few people would think that he might cry  out of fear of Allah is Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Umar was known for being strong, fearless, and uncompromising when it came to matters of faith. Despite that, it was related by Abdullah Ibn Isa that he had two black streaks on his face as a result of constant weeping.
 
Umar's awe and fear of Almighty Allah was so intense that he once said, "If someone announces from the heavens that everybody will enter Paradise except for one person, I would fear that I would be that person."
 

Thus, the strong Umar was fearful of his Lord and His punishment to the point of weeping. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was also a great example of this. He was simply known for crying out of fear of Almighty Allah. These people were keen on serving fellow human beings during the day and invoke Almighty Allah at night in order to save them, as well as all humanity, from His Punishment.

Let us contemplate the reality of the hereafter and let us invoke Almighty Allah to forgive our sins and soften our hearts. We have more need and urgency to contemplate and weep than Umar and Abu Bakr ever had. Human beings are in turmoil. Only connecting with Allah wholeheartedly and begging for His mercy and forgiveness can bring us closer to Him and instill a sense of tranquility and softness in our hearts.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

KINDNESS


KINDNESS

 


And verily, whosoever shows patience and forgives that would truly be from the things recommended by Allah. [The Noble Qur'an 42:43]


"Allah is not kind to him who is not kind to people."                               [Hadith - Muslim & Bukhari ]

 

"He who does not thank people does not thank Allah."
Hadith - Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi

 

"Those who are kind and considerate to Allah's creatures, Allah bestows His kindness and affection on them. Show kindness to the creatures on the earth so that Allah may be kind to you."
The Noble Qur'an - Al-Fath 48:29

Monday, April 11, 2011

OBJECT OF DESPAIR

OBJECT OF DESPAIR

Emma is a lawyer
And so is Aisha too
Colleagues going into court
At circa half past two

Its 1 O'Clock right now
Aisha prays before the trial
They grab a bite and chat about this and that
Conversing with a smile

Aisha is in full hijab
With a loose all over suit
Emma's in her business wear
With accessories taboot


Emma's really quite bemused
At Aisha's godly ways
She looks Aisha in the eyes
And very firmly says

You're a smart girl Aisha
Why do you wear that across your hair?
Subjugated by "man"-kind
An object of despair


Take it off my sister
Let your banner be unfurled
Don't blindly follow all around
DECLARE YOUR FREEDOM TO THE WORLD

Aisha is amazed
But not the least bit shy
She bravely puts her milkshake down
And gives Emma the reply


My dear sister Emma,
Why do you dress the way you do?
The skirt you're wearing round your waist,
Is it really you?

Now that we've sat down
I see you tug it across your thighs,
Do you feel ashamed?
Aware of prying eyes?


I see the way you're sitting,
Both legs joined at the knees,
Who forces you to sit like that?
Do you feel at ease?

I'll tell you who obliges you,
To dress the way you do,
Gucci, Klein, and St. Laurent
All have designs on you!


In the main, its men my friend,
Who dictate the whims of fashion,
Generating all the garb,
To incite the basest passion

"Sex Sells" there is no doubt
But who buys with such great haste,
The answer is likes like you,
Because they want to be embraced...


They want to be accepted,
On a level playing field
Sure, with brain and intellect
But with body parts revealed

Intelligence and reason
Are useful by and by
But if you want to make a mark
Stay appealing to the eye


You claim your skirt is office-like
A business dress of sorts
Would we not laugh at Mike?
If he turned up in shorts?

His could be the poshest of pants
Pinstripe from Saville Rowe
But walking round like that my friend
He'd really have to go


Why do you douse yourself in creams
To make your skin so milky?
Why do you rip off all your hair
To keep your body silky?

A simple shower's all you need
To stay respectable and clean
The time and money that you spend
Is really quite obscene


Why do you wake up at dawn,
To apply a firm foundation,
Topped with make up and the like,
In one chaotic combination?

And if you should have to leave the house
Devoid of this routine
Why do you feel insecure
That you should not be seen?


Be free my sister Emma
Escape from your deep mire
Don hijab today my friend
And all Islam's attire

Avoid all those sickly stares
Or whistles from afar
Walk down the street with dignity
Take pride in who you are


Strength lies in anonymity
Be a shadow in the crowd
Until you speak and interact
When your voice will carry loud

You're a smart girl Emma
Wear this across your hair
Don't be subjugated by "man"-kind
An object of despair


To use your very words my friend
Let your banner be unfurled
Don't blindly follow all around
DECLARE YOUR FREEDOM TO THE WORLD